Senate rejects crackdown on illegal billboards

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

A measure to impose steep fines on illegal billboards in California went down to defeat in the state Senate on Thursday after lobbying by the powerful sign industry. Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich had pushed for the measure, SB 1470, which would have allowed civil fines of up to $2,500 for each day a billboard is in violation of state law or local ordinances. “There is a situation in our urban areas particularly where an industry is running rampant in an illegal fashion,’’ said Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), who authored the bill. “We’re trying to bring some sense and sanity so we can deter this illegal activity.’’

Los Angeles city officials have estimated that there may be 11,000 illegal billboards in their jurisdiction, and Trutanich has asked for more power to go after scofflaws. “He needs to have a bit of a hammer to deter this illegal behavior,’’ Leno said.

However, the measure failed on a 14-20 vote. Democrats and Republicans voted against the measure, including Sen. Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield), who said the bill was ill-timed when businesses are struggling during the economic downturn to advertise for more customers.

“I would think that especially in these times … we would be doing everything we could to try to promote advertising and the promotion of businesses that do provide those jobs,’’ Ashburn said. “This bill comes at exactly the wrong time.’’

He said the penalties proposed are “severe, disproportionate.’’ --Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento