Free Speech Challenge in Philly Another major transit system faces a First Amendment challenge to restrictions on controversial advertising. On May 2, the Center for Investigative Reporting sued the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), which had rejected the Center’s application as political issue-based advertising. The plaintiff, based in California, is […]
The OC Register reports that Electra Media Inc. has asked the Westminster planning commission for a variance to construct a 64 foot tall double-sided digital billboard west of the Springdale street overpass on the southwest side of the I-22 freeway in Westminster, CA. The town’s sign code limits signs to 35 […]
Hunger for new money to pay for roads and bridges continues to push government to offer pieces of the public right of way for sale. This is worrisome in that it creates state-sponsored advertising which will compete with your out of home business. Here’s the latest: 1.) What just happened […]
Seattle may have a ban on digital billboards but Seattle Mag reports that a building at fourth and union is testing the limits of the city’s sign ordinance. The building is owned by Ann and Danny Schnitzer. Ann Schnitzer is the registered agent of Sun Outdoor and Danny […]
By Kerry Yoakum In an important victory, Wisconsin has clarified repair and maintenance standards for nonconforming billboards, which comprise more than half of the billboard inventory in the state. On April 16, Governor Scott Walker signed legislation supported by the Outdoor Advertising Association of Wisconsin, led by executive director Kathi […]
By Kerry Yoakum, Vice President of Government Affairs, OAAA Illinois’ Department of Transportation has asked a home-state congressman to change federal law to allow states to exit the Fifties-era “Bonus Program” without penalty. The Bonus Act, a precursor to the Highway Beautification Act of 1965, provided federal incentive money to […]
The Cato Institute and other conservative think tanks are supporting the legal attack on billboard law as unconstitutional infringement on free speech. Cato, based in Washington, DC, filed an amicus brief on April 10 in a case called Thomas v. Schroer, which challenges Tennessee’s billboard controls. “Tennessee’s statutory and regulatory […]
By Chris Zukin, President, Meadow Outdoor Advertising, Dalles, OR Governor Kate Brown signed long-sought legislation April 10th , 2018 to protect billboards from un-compensated government taking. In the past, the state paid only salvage value. The new law requires the state to pay full compensation for loss of an outdoor […]
The Morning Call reports that Adams presented the case for a 616 square foot digital sign along the Hill to Hill bridge in Bethlehem during a three hour hearing in front of the Bethlehem Zoning Hearing board. Adams wants a variance to: construct a 616 square foot sign versus a […]
By Richard Rothfelder, Rothfelder and Falick Introduction On April 6, 2018, the Texas Supreme Court granted TxDOT’s Petition for Review and without hearing oral argument, issuing a formal opinion, or considering the merits of the case, vacated the judgments of the Court of Appeals and trial court (which ruled the […]
