Photo: Rosemary Calvert / Stone / Getty Images
If you grew up in Texas, chances are you were told that it was illegal to pick our state flower. I was under that impression for years! But it turns out there are no laws that specifically prevent picking bluebonnets. However, there are other laws that you could be breaking depending on the location you pick to take your pics.
·It’s illegal to take any plants, animals or artifacts from State Parks or National Park Service lands.
·It’s also illegal to trespass on private property.
·The Department of Public Safety warns that there are laws against damaging or destroying rights-of-way and government property.
·If you were to drive over a patch of bluebonnets on the side of the road, you could be charged with destruction of a right-of-way. There are other citations you could face including failure to signal, impeding traffic and illegal parking. But all of these scenarios are pretty uncommon.
DPS Bluebonnet Safety Tips
·Signal before leaving or entering the roadway.
·Park off the roadway (off of improved shoulders), parallel to the road in the direction of traffic.
·Don’t cross lanes of traffic on foot to get to the flowers.
·Obey signs that prohibit parking on a particular stretch of roadway.
·Remember that failure to follow the rules of the road any time of the year could result in a ticket.
·It’s also a good idea to look out for wildlife. Many critters, including rattlesnakes, could be hiding in tall grass and wildflowers. And you know you'll see bugs, especially bees. Which freaks out my daughter and makes taking family bluebonnet pictures quite an ordeal.
(KSAT)