Billboard Bans

What do Hawaii, Alaska, Maine and Vermont all have in common besides their spectacular natural beauty?

 

From Hanauma Bay

 

Billboards. Or more precisely, their lack of them. All four states have passed legislation banning the enormous and often unsightly advertisements in an effort to keep their main natural attractions in the forefront. Hawaii in particular has been very aggressive in its push to be billboard free, including a move to ban sign trucks or vehicles whose sole purpose is advertising. The donor funded organization Outdoor Circle has been the driving force behind keeping Hawaii beautiful and pushing for strict regulations with regard to any outdoor or green space. Formed in 1912 at the grassroots level, Outdoor Circle is so passionate about their cause that as recently as July of this year they took on the famed Oscar Meyer Wienermobile. While it toured Oahu, Outdoor Circle, much to the chagrin of Oscar Meyers, argued vehemently that the giant wiener on wheels was in clear violation of the Billboard vehicle law. Coincidentally, a spokesperson for the Wienermobile has stated no further plans to return to the state.

 

Opposition to the ban came from the usual suspects; religious groups crying freedom of speech and big business calling foul on their inability to advertise en mass via billboards. The surprise champions for the cause were Hawaii’s local shops and businesses. Though the least likely to use the pricey form of advertising, they applauded the ban on the grounds that it leveled the playing field between them and the big box and chain companies that had the benefit of huge marketing budgets.

 

As the rules are amended to keep up with the times, the arguments for and against will continue with a good portion being based solely on the idea of banning anything under the fear of a loss of freedom. Despite these arguments there will undoubtedly be more states considering some type of billboard or sign ban, though a country wide move would clearly be impossible. Can you imagine Las Vegas banning billboards? I think not. But as more states do begin to consider it – Rhode Island and Oregon have both banned the construction of new billboards – one has to ask; how much is too much? Are the rules and regulations that we live by becoming far too limiting? According to groups like Outdoor Circle, they are not nearly limiting enough when it comes to protecting our ever decreasing green spaces.

Tags: Advertising, advertising ban, ban on advertising, billboard laws, billboard legislation, billboards, legislation, sign, Signs

This entry was posted on August 20th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or Trackback from your own site.