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Bill to Ban Mobile Billboards Heads to Governor
An unhitched advertising trailer sits on Woodman Ave. in Sherman Oaks outside Notre Dame High School | Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist
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An unhitched advertising trailer sits on Woodman Ave. in Sherman Oaks outside Notre Dame High School | Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist
A bill that would allow cities and counties to regulate mobile billboard advertising displays was approved by the state legislature last week, sending it to the Governor's desk for approval. Unhitched advertising trailers dot the San Fernando Valley and are seen as blight to community members, a safety hazard to some officials and a source for exasperation in areas where parking is scarce.
But if Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger does let Assembly Bill 2756 become law -- he has until September 30th to do so -- mobile billboard advertisers promise to fight back.
"Even if the legislation is signed into law, we will file for declaratory relief in Federal Court. The legislation is such a perversion of the rights of vehicle owners that it would most likely be blocked by the courts," mobile billboard company owner Bruce Boyer told the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council in an e-mail. "If that failed, Blumenfield did such a sloppy job writing the legislation that we could fire cannons through the loopholes in it," he said.
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Boyer, who is participating in FreeOurValley.com -- "Do not illigalize Free Parking" is one of its goals -- told the Council that "the sign trailers will still be out there" even if local laws go into effect.
Los Angles city councilmembers have been exploring options while monitoring the progress of AB 2756, which was authored by two Los Angeles assemblymembers, Mike Feuer and Bob Blumenfield. One idea is to implement a law from the city of West Hollywood.
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