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Plainfield, MI regulated digital billboards and differentiate them from the standard version by introducing varying statutes that prohibit certain features. Some of these features are: scrolling or moving text; frequent(<8sec) message changes; overilluminated messages; brightness in relation to current ambient lighting; light pollution; and transition periods between messages. What I liked best about this proposal are the stiff penalties associated with infractions, such as: >$2500.00 per day/per infraction; land sign owners liable if negligent billboard is on property; previous violators are fined double the standard amount.
I particularly like the brightness compared to current ambient lighting. When I saw that I instantly thought of the Winstar Casino in Thackerville and how bright that is without anything else around it. Not exactly a billboard, but it's incredibly bright and changes messages rather quickly. It seems like a true "health, safety and welfare" justification with brightness and traffic safety in the discussion.
ReplyDeleteBrightness and movement are my two biggest complaints about these signs and both need to be regulated. Otherwise, I think they are great. There ought to be voluntary cooperation with state/local emergency management, too, in order to use them for emergency situations like tornado warnings.
ReplyDeleteNow, it turns out that Prof Jourdan contributed to a model sign code. I've never had time to read the whole thing (linked below) but I did read a lot of the legal stuff (haven't got to the technical). Turns out that there is a big difference between a billboard, which is an off-premise sign, and a sign on/at a business, which is an on-premise sign. The former are much easier to regulate than the latter, because the latter is protected under the First Amendment. As Megan notes, though, the regulating the digital signboards should be permissible, even if on-premise, given the ability of local gov't to protect health, safety, and welfare. Interesting stuff ... in a nerdy kind of way.
http://www.dcp.ufl.edu/files/8c71fa03-9cbf-4af2-9.pdf
I am glad Megan U. added the comment about 'public health, safety and welfare' as the connection between regulation of billboards.
ReplyDeleteThere are some studies on how videos/movement on these signs increases risks for accidents (health and safety):
http://www.scenic.org/billboards-a-sign-control/digital-billboards/112-digital-billboard-safety-studies
Though this study did not find statistical findings for increase of accidents with digital billboards:
http://www.ite.org/Membersonly/techconference/2011/CB11D3004.pdf
This one suggests we look at digital/electronic billboards longer (thus increase of risk of accidents):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130129075612.htm
Sorry above posts are from Meghan Wieters
ReplyDelete