Once a rare sight, electronic billboards have been making new ads every few seconds, and in recent years have appeared on hundreds of highways along the California Highway, which has made environmental activists andsafety experts.
Records show that in the nearly eight years of Jerry Brown's election as governor, his government has increased the number of commercial digital signs allowed on the highway from 125 to 366.
Now, the Brown government, which sees California as profitable, submitted a report to lawmakers saying it was "feasible" to allow commercial advertising in California"
In a test project that operates an electronic information sign on a highway, it is estimated to bring millions of dollars.
If successful, the pilot project could lead to commercial product advertising in many of the 904 states
According to a feasibility study sent by the California Department of Transport, the information signs of operation are currently limited to flashing traffic information, road hazard warnings and Amber Alerts for abducted children.
The study led to legislation last week authorizing the group of five.
Lobbyists are driving the annual pilot program for influential billboard companies that will benefit from this change.
At the same time, cities and counties have also begun to take measures, fearing that this will deprive them of the power to control signage.
The bill from Democratic lawmakers Kevin mulling and Rob Bonta of Alameda from South San Francisco will waive 25 digital billboards from the current state ban on these signs in public rights --of-
Along the highway.
"Compared to the current electronic logo, this pilot project will provide clear and easy-to-understand information to the tourism public, including public safety alerts and disaster alerts," mulling said . ", He added that he wanted to "ensure that we make the most of the evolving technology and get the potential benefits of revenue from it.
"Opponents fear that expansion will be one of the last actions of the governor before he leaves office in January, although Mr Brown did not take a stand on the bill.
Patrick Frank, a Los Angeles resident who is the chairman of the alliance to Ban Billboard wilting, is one of those who is shocked by the proliferation of electronic billboards and more possibilities for the future.
"This is the worst idea in the world," Frank said . ". “It’s crazy.
It's out of control.
There is no economic need.
We don't need to advertise on the highway.
"The test project will generate $10.
According to Caltrans, the state's income for the first four years was 2 million.
But Frank points out that the country is already expecting a huge surplus next year and that its rainy-day budget fund will have a surplus of nearly $14 billion.
The new digital billboard will be a thorn in the eye, he said.
"We are totally against it for aesthetic reasons," Frank said . ".
Traffic safety expert Jerry Wachtel, who also opposed the proposal, did research for Caltrans and the National Highway collaborative research project, and he believes that digital signage will make California highways more dangerous.
"This is a terrible idea," said Wachtel . ".
"There is no doubt that this will increase distracted driving.
The driver's eyes left the road.
Depending on the effect of the beer advertisement, the driver may also forget this.
"Over the past decade, billboard companies and their trading groups spent $2 million lobbying in Sacramento.
They also donated $4.
52 million of the political movement during this period.
Donations include $100,000 for Brown's Foster state media governor campaign.
Outdoor channels and CBS Outdoor channels are now outdoor media.
Clear Channel and CBS also contributed $193,000 worth of billboard ads to Brown's 30 campaign, which is the governor's 2012 voting measure to temporarily raise taxes on the rich.
Mullin and Bonta have received $13,500 in donations from foster care for re-election campaigns this year and 2016.
Supporters of the bill that initiated the pilot program include digital signature companies leading the media and smart signature Network Ltd, which is linked to donors promoting interstate media, Brown, Mulin and bangta.
Brown declined to comment on the latest proposal through a spokesman who transferred the phone to transport agency officials.
Caltrans spokesman Mark dingg said that if a test project is tried, traffic safety issues will be critical for the agency.
"Although pilots will aim to assess the potential for revenue generated by advertising, the main concern of caltranss is the safety impact on the driving public," tinger said . ".
"Any such impact will result in the immediate and permanent cessation of the project.
The bill has been opposed by the California city alliance.
"The bill is said to be one of five.
Jeffrey L, manager of Bellflower City, said: "This year's pilot measure is actually an agreement for secret negotiations between a large billboard company and the legislature . "
Stewart declined to disclose the company he thought would benefit.
He added that the measure "will help to deprive all local controls and revenue from the animated signs near the highway.
According to state data, of the 366 digital billboards that Caltrans have allowed near the highway, 103 are in Los Angeles County, up from 66 allowed by the county in 2013.
Caltrans officials say their policy is to approve digital billboard licenses on private property as long as the building meets national standards.
The project outlined in the Brown government report will put commercial ads on 25 digital billboards, replacing the state's information logo operating in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento, according to the Caltrans study submitted to lawmakers last month.
Caltrans reported that the three urban areas were selected as "the three markets with the highest revenue in the state ".
The agency's 160-
Page report says successful testing could lead to more commercial advertising being extended to 904 variable information flags operated by the state.
So far, Los Angeles County has the largest number of states
Operate the digital logo of any county in the state, 126.
In addition to the problem of distracting drivers, research has shown that placing commercial ads on signs reduces the effectiveness of warning drivers about traffic hazards and other government information, Wachtel said.
"The problem, as some studies have found, is that drivers tend to start firing when official traffic signs communicate ads," he said . ".
Caltrans reports that there are "significant challenges" in establishing a test program, including the need to change state laws to allow the federal government to abandon the ban on electronic signs in highway rightsof-way. The Mullin-
The Bonta Bill, due to hold a hearing on the Senate transportation committee on Tuesday, will remove obstacles in state law.
Supporters say the design of the system could be approved by officials in Washington, D. C. C.
Despite the Federal Highway Administration's refusal to advertise to the state last year
Texas Highway traffic signs. Frank, the L. A.
Base activists are not just worried about any expansion.
In recent years, the surge in digital signage on highways has also affected his view of Brown.
"I'm really disappointed because I like Jerry Brown in a lot of ways and it's not that good what's happening on his watch," Frank said . ".