New Michigan law aims to protect historic markers

7/15/2002

LANSING — A new law, recently signed by Michigan Gov. John Engler, will help the state protect historical markers.

The legislation clarifies state ownership of official historical markers and establishes penalties for stealing, selling, vandalizing, and imitating the markers.

It also establishes a 90-day amnesty period for returning a marker without penalty.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Larry Julian (R., Lennon), was prompted by the case of the Stroh Brewery marker, which was found posted on Internet auction site eBay.

It was finally returned to the state in January after an 18-month effort to recover it from a Florida salvage operator.

About 50 of the state's 1,500 historical markers are missing.