Bernson Seeks to Test State Billboard Law

Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson called Friday for the demolition of an illegal billboard in his district and the prosecution of its owner.

Bernson, unhappy with delays in city enforcement of billboard ordinances, said his own survey of 5% of the signs in his northwest San Fernando Valley district turned up at least three unlicensed billboards.

Tearing down one of them would provide the grounds to challenge a state law that makes illegal signs legal after five years.

“I think that’s horse manure,” Bernson said.

The council recently ordered an inventory of the estimated 10,000 billboards in the city, but Bernson wanted faster action and sent his staff out to identify suspect signs for scrutiny by the Building and Safety Department.

Inspectors reported Friday that of 104 billboards surveyed, three were apparently erected without permits and six others had been altered so that they did not comply with original permit specifications.

Bernson said he wants to force a court decision on whether state law is binding on the city. The 1983 statute legalizes signs in existence for five years that have not been cited by the city.

“We want to take down one of the illegals and test the state law,” Bernson said. “We have to test it. Otherwise we have no enforcement authority.”

The city has asked the owners of the three allegedly illegal signs to produce proof that permits were issued.