Court: Signs are a matter of free speech
By Hans von Spakovsky, Daily Signal
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court struck down a town’s sign ordinance as an unconstitutional, content-based regulation of speech. This ruling for free speech means the government can’t pick and choose what speech deserves more protection based on the content of the speech.
Like most other towns in America, Gilbert, Ariz., regulates when, where and how signs may be displayed around town. Temporary non-commercial signs are classified by their content, and each category has its own set of regulations.
Real estate signs, for example, may be up to 80 square feet, and political signs may be up to 32 square feet; political signs may be displayed for four and a half months before an election, including in the public right of way; and homeowners’ association event signs may be displayed for 30 days.
The new CSLT sign ordinance doesn’t meet the rulings standards, and has to be rewritten.
So I wonder what this means for SLT’s regulations against sandwich-board signs and such? Might make it a little easier for businesses to make themselves known when they’re not right on the highway.
All, log into this website to see the SLT sign ordinances.
http://www.codepublishing.com/CA/SouthLakeTahoe/#!/SouthLakeTahoe06/SouthLakeTahoe0640.html#6.40.010
After reading from 6.40.010 through 6.40.490 please come back and tell us what you think the impact of this Supreme Court ruling will do.
At the same time, please tell us if it is really clear what you can do to put up a sign without having to hire an attorney to read it.
Let TRPA enforce it, the city is taking on this burden and it doesn’t have to. TRPA doesn’t enforce it anywhere, only the city does.
Does the City Charter detail specifics of their authority? Where can someone find the Charter?
According to the article, this ruling applies to content and still allows local governments to retain the power to “enact and enforce reasonable sign regulations.”
“Reasonable”?
Nevada signs are huge compared to the cities signs and reasonable means lets go to court.