The department may accept any gift of money or property from any person or group for the purpose of acquiring property for, and establishing and maintaining as a memorial to any person or group, a place adjacent to any state highway in the state scenic highway system established by Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 260) of Chapter 2, Division 1, at a point of special scenic, historical, or cultural interest, where motorists may stop to appreciate and enjoy the point of interest.

Any money which is received by the department pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Special Interest Stopping Place Fund, which fund is hereby created in the State Treasury. Any money in the fund is continuously appropriated to the department without regard to fiscal years to carry out the purposes for which the money was received by the department.

The department shall, unless otherwise requested by the person or group from whom money or property is received for a stopping place, establish and maintain appropriate signs at the stopping places which indicate the name of the person or group in whose honor the place was established.

The right of eminent domain shall not be exercised by the department to acquire property, or any interest in property, pursuant to this section and the department may not acquire any real property for the purposes of this section unless the board of supervisors of the county in which such real property is located consents to such acquisition.

(Amended by Stats. 1971, Ch. 1235.)