The State Highway Commission is hereby authorized to maintain property acquired for highway purposes free and clear of any obstruction, encroachment or any other use not authorized by the commission. Before removing or terminating any obstruction, encroachment or other unauthorized use, the State Highway Commission shall give notice by registered mail to the offending party of its intention to remove or terminate such obstruction, encroachment or other unauthorized use unless, within forty-five (45) days from the date such notice is mailed, the offending party institutes a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction with respect to the removal or termination proposed by the Highway Commission. When the State Highway Commission has removed or terminated any obstruction, encroachment or other unauthorized use after the mailing of notice as required above and upon the failure of the offending party to institute an action within the forty-five-day time period, the Highway Commission may institute a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction against the offending party for all costs incurred in the removal or termination thereof.
The State Highway Commission, the State Highway Department and State Highway Department personnel shall not be liable, civilly or criminally, for any property damages or personal injuries incurred by any person for the removal or termination of such obstruction, encroachment or unauthorized use in accordance with the provisions of this section provided that reasonable care is exercised in the termination or removal of the obstruction, encroachment or unauthorized use. The provisions of this section shall not be construed as a waiver, in whole or in part, of the sovereign immunity of the state, the State Highway Commission or the State Highway Department.
The provisions of this section shall apply only to the removal or termination of obstructions, encroachments or other unauthorized uses of property acquired for highway purposes which first occur or are created on or after July 1, 1988. The provisions of this section shall not apply to or affect any right or remedy which the State Highway Commission was authorized by law prior to July 1, 1988, to exercise in the removal or termination of any such obstructions, encroachments or other unauthorized uses occurring or created before July 1, 1988.