Common Defense Tactics of the Billboard Industry The billboard industry is second only to the tobacco industry in the amount of money spent lobbying.  If your hometown is taking steps to stop new billboard construction, the sign companies will go out of their way to stop you.  They may use one or more of the following methods: 1.  the Stall Tactic This is the most common first step the billboard folks will use to defeat a new ordinance.  It's often effective because it sounds so reasonable.  They will say that (of course) they would "like to be involved in whatever it is that you're trying to accomplish".  They will ask you to "form a committee" to study the situation....also called Divide and Conquer. In the meantime, they will apply for as many billboard permits as possible.  This is why a moratorium to temporarily stop the issuance of new permits must be in place prior to publicizing any changes to your local ordinance.  Otherwise, your actions may dramatically increase the number of signs, instead of the intended effect. 2.  the Beautiful Children tactic If your city council holds a public hearing on your new ordinance, be prepared to hear from some employees of the billboard companies.  They will most likely bring their beautiful children along too.  They will tell you that if your ordinance passes, their children will likely starve!  This is their textbook song and dance.  3.  Lying with Statistics The billboard companies will also cite data showing that the local economy was in shambles before their signs were erected.  They will also try to get the local business owners agitated.  There are hundreds of ways to advertise that do not intrude on the rights of others AND Alabama's most prosperous cities ban new billboards! When all is said and done, the same number of hamburgers and the same volume of gas will be sold.  Because they are so expensive, billboards usually benefit big corporations at the expense of family-owned small businesses and simply direct business from one spot to another. 4. Good Guy-Bad Guy Classic and very effective tactic used the world over.  One guy is the very vocal, very mad "bad guy".  He's the decoy.  The other guy is the very reasonable, very calm "good guy".  Nature leads you to agree with the reasonable good guy.  He's the one that will propose what they REALLY want you to do.  Don't fall for it! 5.  the Strong-arm tactic Of course, if all else fails, they will threaten to sue.  This is an empty threat because the Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the right of states, counties, and municipalities to regulate these huge and intrusive signs. Do not let the billboard industry intimidate or bully you or your city council.  You have the right to decide how you want your town to look! "All roads leading into Decatur are not in the city limits, so we'll move on out and go by State regulations which are much more lax than the city regulations." --a representative from Trinity Advertising following Decatur's ban on new billboards. "Know the public service and/or charity interest of the Mayor, Planning Director, Council Members,...[their] wives and husbands...Direct your public service efforts toward these causes....Make these persons aware each time you donate space to a cause and/or group for which they have an interest."---Outdoor Advertising Association Conference Lastly, if you are leasing your land to a billboard company, you should check out this site:

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