Last Friday, Metro Fuel filed a motion in United States District
Court for the Northern District of California to prevent the city of
San Francisco from enforcing its laws against illegal billboards.
The outdoor advertising company, which is owned by New York based
Fuel Outdoor Holdings, which specializes in mini billboards or “Metro
Lights” panels, is hoping that a federal court judge will issue a
preliminary injunction blocking San Francisco from prosecuting building
owners who allow illegal billboards on their property.
San Francisco banned all new billboards in 2002. It also has strict
zoning regulations that prohibit billboards in residential areas, near
schools and parks. Recently, the city began issuing “notices of
violations” against Fuel’s panel sign lessors. The city has argued that
the ban and restrictive zoning is necessary to preserve and protect
“traffic safety” and “aesthetics.”
Metro
Fuel filed the motion against the city arguing that it was unfair that
the city could make money off its street furniture program, lamppost
banners, news racks and kiosks but forbid similar advertising on
private property by a private firm.
Learn more from LA Daily, an LA Weekly blog.
[Photo by ChazWags]
