New Legislation Could Put Teeth in Mobile Billboard Ban

It may be illegal to park a mobile billboard on the streets of West Hollywood, but if Gov. Schwarzenegger signs a recently passed bill into law it will be a lot easier to enforce the ban.

Co-authored by Assemblymen Bob Blumenfield and Mike Feuer, AB 2756 was among a flurry of bills passed in the last days of the legislative session, which ended Aug. 31. The bill would allow cities to draft ordinances banning the mobile billboards as part of state vehicle code, rather than as part of a particular city's municipal code.

Weho City Councilman Jeffrey Prang said the new legislation would make enforcing a ban on the mobile billboards more feasible.

"Whenever you have the full force of the state law behind you, it's a lot easier, and we're glad the state has recognized the signs as a blight," he said. 

Not to be confused with the rolling advertisements on buses and taxis, mobile billboards are signs on trailers that are parked on city streets. Some people consider them a blight and a traffic hazard. According to a spokesperson from Blumenfield's office, there aren't any statistics available on how often the signs fall over into traffic, but there is considerable anecdotal evidence that this has been an ongoing problem.

According to City Clerk Tom West, West Hollywood has had an ordinance banning the signs since 1998. The problem is that the ordinance is part of the city's municipal code, rather than the state's vehicle code. Because it's a section of municipal code, it can be enforced only by code compliance, which involves fines and takes a lot of time. Also, the ordinance has been challenged in court on numerous occasions, according to Prang. Although the challenges have not succeeded, they consume time and resources for the city. 

"Outdoor advertising is carefully regulated," Prang said.

The new legislation would allow cities to draft vehicle ordinances allowing law enforcement officers to give an offending sign owner a ticket first, and if the sign is not removed, it can be towed away. In addition, notice of the ordinances would not need to be posted at every entrance to a city–not so much of a problem for a small city like Weho, but a particular stumbling block for large municipalities such as Los Angeles.

The Governor has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the bill. To learn more about legislative bills affecting West Hollywood residents, click here.