BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2566
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 16, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 2566 (Hill) - As Amended: April 24, 2012
Policy Committee: Governmental
Organization Vote: 14 - 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill provides an exemption from the regulations of the
Outdoor Advertising Act (OAA) for an advertising display located
on State Route 1, in the County of San Mateo, if certain
conditions are satisfied.
FISCAL EFFECT
Negligible costs to the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans), which provides regulation and enforcement under the
Outdoor Advertising Act.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . According to the author, this bill seeks to create a
narrow exemption to the OAA for an outdoor advertising display
placed on land adjacent to Highway 1 in the town of Half Moon
Bay.
According to the author, the Miramar Restaurant sign, located
on located on Highway 1 in San Mateo County has been on
display for 22 years and has become part of the Half Moon Bay
community. The advertising display directs visitors to the
restaurant and at the bottom of the sign it has an arrow with
the words "Beach Access Next Right" and also names two other
establishments, Landis Shores Oceanfront Inn and Cypress Inn
Bed and Breakfast.
This sign is contrary to laws governing outdoor advertising,
which prohibit any advertising displays from being placed next
to a freeway that has been landscaped if the advertising
AB 2566
Page 2
display is designed to be viewed primarily by persons
traveling on the main-traveled way of the landscaped freeway.
The owner of the sign has been cited by Caltrans for violating
the OAA.
The author points out that this sign in Half Moon Bay has been
part of the community for over two decades and unlike a
traditional billboard, the aesthetics of the sign blend with
its surroundings. In addition, the removal of this sign will
have a severe impact on the financial viability of the
businesses it advertises.
A legislative remedy is seen by proponents as the only option
available to secure an exemption from the OAA.
2)Existing Law . The Outdoor Advertising Act governs the
placement of advertising displays adjacent to highways that
are part of the national system of interstate highways. The
act prohibits any advertising display from being placed next
to a section of a freeway if the advertising display is
designed to be viewed primarily by persons traveling on the
freeway. The Legislature has provided specific statutory
exemptions to this prohibition.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081