No person shall erect or maintain within 100 feet of any highway right-of-way any warning or direction sign or marker of the same shape, design, color and size of any official highway sign or marker erected under the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 136-30, or otherwise so similar to an official sign or marker as to appear to be an official highway sign or marker.  Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (1955, c. 231; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 1030, s. 40; 1993, c. 539, s. 982; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)