Judge Orders Digital Billboards Be Turned Off Today

A Superior Court judge Friday ordered that at least 77 digital billboards in Los Angeles be turned off by the end of the day today (April 15).

The status of the billboards has been in limbo since Superior Court Judge Terry Green determined in 2009 that permits issued as part of a 2006 settlement between the two billboard companies and the city were given out illegally.

Clear Channel Outdoor and CBS appealed the ruling and have since refused to turn off the signs, even after the state Supreme Court refused in February to hear their appeal.

Green set today as the deadline for shutting off the 77 or more billboards, while also invalidating three additional permits. He is expected to make a determination on 20 more signs on Tuesday.

"The courts have spoken and the time has come for CBS and Clear Channel Outdoor to turn off their digital signs in keeping with the law," City Attorney Carmen Trutanich said.

Trutanich last month called on the companies to shut off the signs, after one of those companies sent a letter threatening to sue the city if their permits are revoked.

"We want to thank Judge Green for his guidance in this matter, so that we may now move forward together, committed to a transparent path for authorizing digital billboards in Los Angeles that gives all residents and all companies a fair stake in the process,'' Trutanich said.  

Clear Channel Outdoor will obey the order and turn off the signs, but "will take all legal steps to renew operation of our signs in order to serve our customers and the community,'' said David Grabert, vice president of marketing & communication.

"Turning off these signs, even temporarily, hurts the community and the
economy of the city of Los Angeles by eliminating a vital public safety and
community resource and a valuable effective advertising tool for local and
national businesses,'' Grabert said.

Clear Channel Outdoor is "committed to working collaboratively with city leaders and stakeholders to establish a legislative solution for digital signs,'' Grabert said.

The original lawsuit challenging the 2006 settlement was filed by Summit Media, a billboard company that does not operate any digital signs.

An attorney for Summit was not immediately available for comment.

What do you think of the decison to turn off the billboards? Tell us in the comments section, below.

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