Two trucks were parked on the lot Monday night. One of them was the Harborside catering trucks that's seen around town. But the other sported rotating ads for Boat Club USA, the business based in the former Hilton building that houses Plum Island Roasters and Boat Camp.
Coincidentally, the City Council that night was set to discuss a bylaw that would regulate "movable signs," which would have covered both A-frame sidewalk signs and trucks sporting huge advertisements like these or the one sporting the Biofuels ad. But the council postponed the vote to settle some confusion over what version of the regulation should be discussed.
8 comments:
Hee, that's hilarious. Of course, since these trucks are used for business purposes, they would not fall under the new rule (whatever and whenever).
Gillian, Blogger ate your comment.
How does a municipality have the authority to regulate the signage on a truck driving down its roads?
Wouldn't the interstate commerce part of that moving truck be within the jurisdiction of Congress and the remainder be within the police powers of the Commonwealth?
If I were the trucks' lawyer, I would ask the federal court to enjoin any Newburyport ordinance on the grounds that it imposes an undue burden on interstate commerce, and I'd raise the spectre of a truck with advertising having to comply with a dozen sets of laws driving from Quincy to Billerica.
Luckily, I don't represent trucks.
Oh ... what did I say? That it was hysterical and thanks?
Once the truck is placed in an immobile position on private property and has been positioned for the express purpose of advertising, it is no longer regulated by Federal Interstate.
This picture reinforces the need for the city to regulate the movable signs.
What the City needs to do is stop reinventing the wheel and simply copy a movable sign ordinance from another Massachusetts community. This way it is legally safe.
Funny how all the press generated all these signs, isn't it? I hear there are even more, dotted around the city. Sometimes I think it's better just to leave well enough alone; that way, you don't put ideas into the heads of other people.
If you notice, the Freedom Boat Club truck is registered in New Hampshire
Forget the oil truck, what about a house on low street that has been vacant for approx 2years? In addition it is falling down before our eyes.... No upkeep, can only imagine what this recent weather. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks for any help!
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