Yesterday, I sat in a workgroup on digital billboards. HB 5580 has been introduced which would
create a two-year moratorium on all digital billboards. Supporters of the bill, including Scenic
Michigan, have said that digital billboards are a visual distraction to drivers
and a public safety risk. They have
asked for a moratorium on new billboards until a federal study can be completed
this year that would make determinations on public safety risks and make
recommendations. Opponents, including
the billboard industry, have said that these billboards are easier and more cost
effective for advertisers, that they are not a driver distraction, and that
they can be used for amber alerts (which is contested by the State Police and
broadcasters).
The League supports the bill because we believe that these
digital billboards are a public safety hazard and need to be regulated for
motion, brightness and other areas. We believe
that the federal study should be finalized and released, and the Legislature
should take appropriate action for regulations.
In the meantime, though, there should be a moratorium. If there is not a moratorium in place, there
will be many more nonconforming billboards that communities will have to deal
with. These would be grandfathered in
and won’t have to follow new regulations. It would be costly to force them to
be in compliance.
I am looking to provide the committee with information on
local regulations. If you regulate
digital billboards (or ban them) locally, please let me know. Also, the industry has released a new list of
compromise options. We will have them up
for people to review shortly.
Andy
Schor is the Assistant Director of State Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. Contact him at
(517) 908-0300 or by email.
