Take it Down! or at least Complain About it!

Throughout the country, except in a few states, we have billboards lining the roads we drive on. Ed McMahon says,“Billboards are the only form of advertising you can’t turn off." and he is certainly right. Aren't these the ones we wish we could turn off the most? I cannot tell you how many times I have been driving with my kids and I cringe as we pass by some of these billboards that spark things in the brain that you should not see on a sign. I mean what parent needs to explain to their kids what adult shops are, brothels, strip clubs, condoms, and an array of other inappropriate things. So what can we do about it? According to GOOD this is what we can do about it! For the full story click here. 

Get the facts

 

Find a copy of your local sign ordinance and familiarize yourself with the laws controlling billboards in your area. You may find that some of your local billboards are already illegal. If that’s the case, take pictures, go to the regulating agency, and make your case.

Team up with a group that cares about your issue

Find a neighborhood association, environmental preservation group, or local architects’ association. As a group, lobby your state or local government to ban the construction of new billboards.

Bargain

 

Encourage the entity that regulates billboards to negotiate with outdoor advertising companies. Suggest that companies be required to take down a certain number of old billboards on secondary roads before being allowed to put up a new one on a main road, or remove 10 traditional billboards for each new digital billboard installed.

Buy ’em out

 

The federal government makes “Transportation Enhancements” funds available for highway projects, including the purchase of billboards in order to remove them permanently. Local governments may apply for funds in partnership with nonprofit or community groups. See enhancements.org for details.

Embrace a challenge

 

Getting rid of billboards can be difficult. “The outdoor advertising industry is well organized and experienced in fighting regulation on every level,” says McMahon. But groups like SCRUB in Philadelphia and Scenic Texas have won significant victories in their areas—proof positive that success is possible. 

Tell us about what you hope to remove and how it goes! Each small victory is a win to protect children from the dangers of pornography. 

Information acquired from https://www.good.is/articles/get-a-billboard-taken-down-or-at-least-complain-about-one

Picture from http://www.istockphoto.com/photos/billboard?excludenudity=true&sort=best&mediatype=photography&phrase=billboard