Traveling Billboards Impounded In San Fernando Valley (City Councilman Dennis Zine Triumphant)

By Dennis Romero Tue., Jan. 4 2011 at 9:23 AM

banbillboardblight.org

Ban them all! (Except this one).

See clarification after the jump.

Those mobile billboard advertising strip clubs, DUI attorneys and other high-end cultural fare are dead meat if the park in the city of L.A. In fact, starting Jan. 1, they've been outlawed along curbs statewide.

To that end, L.A. city Councilman Dennis Zine (the last guy we'd expect to be against pretty women parked on your street) announced Monday that L.A.'s Department of Transportation has cracked down and impounded nine mobile billboards in the San Fernando Valley since the state law went into effect. Sixteen warnings have been issued.

Despite a heckler who acted like it was amateur night at the Improv, Zine claimed triumph at a Monday afternoon press conference and told a reporter for the Daily News to "just ignore him."

Him was Bruce Boyer of Lone Star Security & Video. He's unhappy because Lone Star uses the mobile billboards to advertise. Apparently he attempted to talk over Zine at the news conference pretty much the hole time as cops used their best self-restraint methods (chanting repeatedly to themselves - He's a white businessman; He's a white businessman. We kid!).

But seriously Bruce, by acting louder than your imposing billboards parked on peoples' blocks, do you think you're doing the cause a favor?

We're behind this ban. Except when it comes to strip club ads. They can park.

Ironically, Zine's community task force against mobile billboards is called P.O.S.S.E. - People Organizing a Safe, Secure Environment. Really councilman?

Anyway, the kind folks at Zine's office (they're good people for even acknowledging us at this point) passed on this handy-dandy info so y'all can snitch on whatever a-hole parks their ad in front of your home or business. Just give the process at least 24 hours - warnings have to be posted telling billboard operators to move their business before impounds can happen.

Call the DOT at 818-752-5100 or 213-485-4181. Press #2. Have the plate number ready.

Clarification: Zine's folks contacted us to emphasize that the new rules don't really apply to the kind of mobile billboards with drivers attached that you see in the photo. (We still like the photo). The law applies to mobile billboards on detachable trailers that are then parked in your fine neighborhoods.

Tags:

billboards, Dennis Zine, Department of Transportation, mobile billboards, San Fernando Valley

We Recommend

Car wraps San Diego

Vehicle wraps is a fad in the society due to the amazing client line up that it has shown. Whether a Fortune 500 company or a small business of two people, vehicle wrap advertising is the best decision you can make in favor of your team. It is cost effective and ensures better reach to people. Every day the moving traffic has many vehicles which display a company's name in a creative fashion so as to be noticed. The vehicle wraps thus give you the option of utilizing a space, which may seem so bland otherwise, sound interesting.

club villamar

Thanks for sharing this good knowledge..

Walter Moore

So now the local government will have a monopoly on mobile billboards, right? You know, those big busses to which they apply shrink-wrap ads. Is this really about fighting blight, or is it instead about eliminating competition?

And where, exactly, does one draw the line? Can you still put a bumper sticker on your car? Can you put 20 on your car? Two hundred? Can you put one of those shrink-wrap ads on your car, or would that cut into the City's bus-advertising monopoly?

What about delivery trucks?

If you hate these questions, be glad you never went to law school. ; )