LA Billboard Ordinance Ruled Unconstitutional

A federal judge blocked the city of Los Angeles from collecting billboard fees, ruling that two billboard ordinances violate the 1st Amendment.

1 minute read

November 1, 2002, 9:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"At issue was a $314-per-sign fee the city imposed for annual inspections of about 10,000 billboards throughout Los Angeles... The judge also expressed puzzlement over the purpose of the ordinances, which the city building code says are supposed to protect the city's aesthetics and ensure public safety.... The ordinances, he said, favor commercial over noncommercial signs and regulate noncommercial signs based on their content, a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Friday, November 1, 2002 in The Los Angeles Times

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