Legal

Ads on Traffic Signs? No Way

By Jim Moravec, general partner, Stott Outdoor Advertising.  This article originally appeared in Morning Consult and is reprinted by permission. With traffic congestion and aging infrastructure, America faces an intriguing question:  Should the government auction pieces of the public’s highways to pay for transportation? California is a focus of this […]

Many small towns not Reed v Gilbert compliant.

Insider is surprised how many small communities have sign codes which are not compliant with Reed V Gilbert.  The biggest offense is a sign code with multiple categories which requires a sign inspector to read a sign to decide what sort of rules apply. Insider knows of one Indiana town […]

Marijuana Ads On Billboards – Washington versus Colorado

Our Insider article on the Colorado “Adopt a Highway” sign takeover by the marijuana industry brought us some follow up correspondence and information we wanted to pass along. Westword, through an open-records request to the Colorado Department of Transportation, learned that of the 287 miles of Colorado roadway that are currently […]

Reagan Sues Austin over Sign Code

The Austin Monitor reports that Reagan Outdoor Advertising has sued Austin, Texas claiming the city is violating the Texas Public Information Act by refusing to divulge information about how it arrived at the current CodeNext regs for billboards. During the drafting process Austin Removed the ability to appeal decisions to […]

Pequot Lakes amends sign code

The Brainerd Dispatch reports that the Pequot Lakes, Minnesota planning commission and city council have approved an ordinance to the zoning code to permit signs along the new highway 371.  You can read the proposed amendment here.  The code includes the following: The approval of offsite digital and static billboards […]

So Change Your Sign Code!

A Reno McDonalds wants to replace old outdated menu signs with modern 55 inch digital menu signs.  The new signs will emit less light than the old signs.  There’s a problem.  The smart menu boards are considered digital signs so are not allowed under Reno’s code because they are within […]

Supreme Court Declines On/Off-Premise Sign Case

By Kerry Yoakum, Vice President of Government Affairs, OAAA On May 29, the US Supreme Court declined a challenge to San Francisco’s outdoor advertising restrictions which permit on-premise advertising but prohibit off-premise advertising. In 2015, Contest Promotions, a company that runs raffles for prizes such as movie and concert tickets […]

Banned on Billboards . . . Cannabis Stores “Adopt” Colorado Highways

After Colorado legalized marijuana, cannabis outlets began sponsoring official signs on public right of way that acknowledge litter clean-up. Meanwhile, Colorado bans cannabis dispensaries from buying billboard ads: “. . . it shall be unlawful for any Retail Marijuana Establishment to engage in Advertising that is visible to members of […]

Sloane on empty sign regulations

Yesterday Florida out of home attorney Jennifer Sloane talked about the importance of due diligence when you are acquiring an out of home company.  Today she talks about out of home legal issues. What’s the Florida regulatory landscape like for out of home? From a state perspective, it’s quite favorable […]

Bethlehem Denies Adams Digital

  Lehigh Valley Live reports that the Bethlehem Zoning Board turned down a request by Adams Outdoor for 4 variances to construct a 616 square foot digital billboard at 213 Union Station Plaza along the Hill to Hill Bridge.  Adams already owns a billboard on city property on the other […]