Roadside billboard bans

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I found out that four states (Alaska, Hawaii, Maine and Vermont) ban roadside billboards. Another two (Oregon and Rhode Island) prohibit construction of any new ones and only allow space to be rented out on pre-existing one.

Supposedly these states have found this to actually be economically beneficial as it boosts tourism. Thoughts?

[RI]

The sheer number of incredibly tacky roadside (and freeway-side) billboards is one of the many reasons I can't stand being in Florida.

[Napoleon]

Very positive for the most part. A while ago I wrote a law in Atlasia to ban billboards in rural communities that wished to retain their areas natural beauty. Nothing wrong saith billboards throughout hideous sprawl though.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

If billboards you would rather not see

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Then leave the sun and find a cave

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Most places won't get tourists if they are sign free

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

MYANMAR SHAVE

[Link]

Supposedly these states have found this to actually be economically beneficial as it boosts tourism. Thoughts?

How did they determine this?!

[I Am Feeblepizza.]

I would think billboards would have a stimulating effect on the economy. If a business puts up a billboard, than more consumers purchase their product or service. To take down billboards, it seems, would just serve to inhibit economic growth.

From a standpoint of "preserving natural beauty", I tend to have the same attitude. If you really care that much about seeing trees, then just ignore the darn things.

[Platypus]

Canberra doesn't have them; it's probably the best thing about the ACT.

[fezzyfestoon]

I can't stand billboards. Then again, I can't stand being constantly bombarded by advertising in general. It's in extremely poor taste in my view.

[minionofmidas]

I would think billboards would have a stimulating effect on the economy. If a business puts up a billboard, than more consumers purchase their product or service. To take down billboards, it seems, would just serve to inhibit economic growth.

Not at all. It's only if some people have billboards and others can't have them that these other people's economic abilities are impinged on.

As to the question... I don't care really. Our motorways are largely free of them, they're viewed as traffic impediments. You rarely get a view of actual natural beauty from a motorway anyways. On normal roads, you can put up any that aren't impeding traffic (view of traffic signs etc).

[I Am Feeblepizza.]

I would think billboards would have a stimulating effect on the economy. If a business puts up a billboard, than more consumers purchase their product or service. To take down billboards, it seems, would just serve to inhibit economic growth.

Not at all. It's only if some people have billboards and others can't have them that these other people's economic abilities are impinged on.

Your wording is a bit foggy. Who are the "other people"--the ones who can afford to advertise on billboards, or the ones who can't? If they're the latter, then of course their economic abilities are impinged upon! Businesses that can't afford a lot of advertising generally aren't as successful as ones that can.

[minionofmidas]

Yah, I was thinking primarily of grandfather clauses in regulation etc.

Basically, it's the same old "if everybody has it, nobody [except the billboard producers] has gained anything. But if everybody else has it, I need it too" thing.

[Хahar 🤔]

On Interstate 5 in the Central Valley, the billboards are necessary to alleviate some of the tedium.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

On Interstate 5 in the Central Valley, the billboards are necessary to alleviate some of the tedium.

There's something about the idea of the Central Valley that horrifies me.

[© tweed]

anything that limits the areas colonized by advertising has my approval, at least at first glance.

[Nichlemn]

I'm not a fan of blanket bans. I much prefer taxation. That way, billboards with high value are still built and the government gets revenue, while low value ones aren't.

If taxation isn't an option, I probably prefer a ban to no restrictions.