|
|
|
|
|
Become a contributor . . .
Connect with your neighbors, friends and community. Share your news, events and photos!
|
|
|
Today's stories . . .
Alpharetta coach Angela Hurt warned her team that Roswell was going to come out with some fire on their Senior Night, and the Lady Hornets did. But …
more
|
1/21/09
|
1 comment
Digital billboard approved for use on MLK
Even though the digital billboard does not meet a number of standards of the city's sign ordinance, the board issued approval during a Jan. 12 meeting. The sign, which is slightly bigger than the regulated 300 square feet allowed by the city, would be located about 15 feet somewhere along a 3.39 acre plot of land on a stretch of N. Morningside Drive, near Martin Luther King Jr. Drive The sign also will be closer to the roadway than the required setback of at least 100 feet. David Stone, a representative of Lamar Advertising, who applied for the variance, said in spite of the signs nonconformity to the current ordinance, the benefits of going digital far outweigh the risks. "The benefit of a digital board is they can bring revenues for the city," Stone said. Stone said digital boards, which have grown in increasing popularity are safer, neater and lend a more modern look to outdoor advertising. And although up to six different ads are displayed at 10-second intervals, there are no flashes, blinking or scrolling, per state regulations. The Rome-based company already has digital billboards in Rome and Dalton and according to General Manager Nick Brown there have been no reported problems with the signs in regards to traffic. "It is the wave of the future," said Brown.
|
|
Over ten years ago, when LED video displays first appeared (the first was on I-5 between Tacoma and Seattle owned by an Indian tribal member), there was a hysterical doom and gloom outcry to these types of billboards going up. To date, there has not been a serious documented case anywhere in the US where an LED display has caused an accident. Unfortunately, even to this day, most local governments base much of their concern over these displays upon rumor and misinformation by needlessly worrying about frequent driving accidents because the driver could be distracted. If this is the case, cell phone usage and texting has caused more proven accidents than these displays could ever hope to. It is hypocritical to deny the public the use of these displays and turn a blind eye to a much more dangerous technology like cellphones.
Thanks to the networked video displays scattered across the country, we are provided with a system capable of immediate emergency public service announcements that can broadcast pictures of Amber-Alerts, government close-captioned emergency broadcasts, and a host of other services otherwise only available via televisions.
I applaud Cartersville's Board for their forward thinking and hope they take advantage of this new technology by reserving for themselves rights to use the display for their own emergency and public service announcements as needed- yes, the technology exists to do this! The misinformed enacted state regulations limiting these displays to 10 second intervals are out-dated and need to be revisited.