Napolitano Must Decide Monday on Blinking-Signs Veto
By Mary Vandeveire
Some Tucson lawmakers are hoping “blinking signs” won’t be allowed along state highways where they could pollute the night sky, and they’re not just using polite language.
“Observatories are incredibly important industries to us. They’re attracted to this area because of the dark skies and clean air,” said Democratic Sen. Gabrielle Giffords, who represents Midtown and northeast Tucson. “Not only would these blinking signs distract drivers, but they would also serve as visual scars on Arizona’s unique landscape.”
State regulation of so-called “electronic variable message” billboards is the subject of a bill sitting on Gov. Janet Napolitano’s desk, awaiting her signature or a veto.
Some Tucson lawmakers oppose the bill, arguing it could damage Southeastern Arizona observatories and astronomy. Supporters of the measure say the bill is needed to clear up confusion about the legality of the advertising medium.
The governor must make her decision and act before the end of the day Monday.
House Bill 2461 would redefine Arizona law that now prohibits outdoor advertising that displays a flashing or blinking light likely to be mistaken for a warning signal.
Under the bill, the law would specifically prohibit signs that change quickly.
The bill adds a definition of “blinking” to mean at least two light changes per second and defines “flashing” as a change from lighted to dark in less than six seconds. Those types of signs would be prohibited.
Tom Farley, representing Arizona Association of Realtors, which supports the bill, said it would help the advertising industry and the Arizona Department of Transportation, which regulates billboards in areas not covered by city or county billboard laws.
But Tucson lawmakers say the electronic billboards would add light to Arizona’s skies and hinder astronomy at observatories on Kitt Peak, Mount Hopkins and Mount Graham.
“Observatories are incredibly important industries to us. They’re attracted to this area because of the dark skies and clean air,” said Democratic Sen. Gabrielle Giffords, who represents Midtown and northeast Tucson. “Not only would these blinking signs distract drivers, but they would also serve as visual scars on Arizona’s unique landscape.”
Democrat Rep. Ted Downing, who represents the same area, said Arizona’s dark skies have a distinct value.
“We have enough distractions on the road without lights blinking on and off at us, reminding us to buy something,” Downing said. “The astronomy industry is unique. There’s no other way I can protect it. There’s other ways we can advertise. We have to make a trade-off.”
Richard Green, the director of Kitt Peak National Observatory, said the astronomy community of Arizona is concerned about the bill. It would allow electronic variable message signs without any regulations to minimize light pollution, Green said.
“There’s no restriction on the amount of light output, where the light goes.
That’s our real concern,” Green said. “All the major observatories are writing to the governor, requesting her veto.”
Clear Channel Outdoor, which owns most of the billboards in Pima County, does not have a position on the sign bill. The company has listened to concerns from the astronomy community about brightness, said Dave Sitton, vice president of the Southern Arizona branch of Clear Channel. For example, Sitton said the company is minimizing light pollution from its lighted billboards by pointing the lights down toward the face of the billboard, rather than up.
“Without the astronomers bringing it to our attention, we wouldn’t have done it that way. But because it’s important here in Tucson and in other places around the globe, it’s something we are willing to address,” Sitton said.
