Outdoor advertising displays: City of Hawthorne.
The core impact of AB1869 is the establishment of guidelines for the construction and operation of municipal message centers in Hawthorne. The bill mandates that the city adopt an ordinance to regulate these centers, specifying parameters such as the maximum size for display faces, illumination restrictions, and minimum separation distances between centers. This regulatory framework aims to enhance local authority over digital advertising while ensuring compliance with federal standards regarding highway funding, thereby safeguarding critical transportation funding against potential reductions caused by local regulations.
Assembly Bill 1869, introduced by Assembly Member McKinnor, aims to modify the regulations surrounding outdoor advertising displays specifically for the City of Hawthorne. Currently, the Outdoor Advertising Act regulates advertising displays viewed from public highways, treating off-premises and on-premises displays distinctly. AB1869 proposes that digital displays owned by the City of Hawthorne, generally categorized as off-premises advertising displays, be classified as on-premises displays under certain conditions. This change is made to enable the city to better control advertising that directly pertains to local businesses and community services.
While supporters of AB1869 argue that it grants the City of Hawthorne necessary powers to better articulate and promote local messages—including public safety alerts and local business advertising—there are concerns about the implications for community aesthetics and the commercialization of public spaces. Critics may fear that increased advertising visibility could detract from the community's character, lead to visual clutter along highways, and create contention regarding content restrictions, particularly around sensitive subjects such as tobacco and firearm advertisements, which are explicitly prohibited under the proposed regulations.