Outdoor advertising displays: exemptions: City of Artesia.

The Outdoor Advertising Act provides for the regulation by the Department of Transportation of advertising displays, as defined, within view of public highways. The act exempts from certain of its provisions advertising displays that advertise the business conducted, services rendered, or goods produced or sold upon the property on which the display is placed, as specified. Existing law exempts from the act advertising displays located in specific geographic areas in the City of Los Angeles if those displays meet specified conditions and requirements, as specified. This bill would exempt from the act advertising displays located in specific geographic areas in the City of Artesia if those displays meet specified conditions and requirements, including authorization by, or in accordance with, an ordinance by the City of Artesia, as specified. The bill would impose certain conditions if an advertising display authorized by this bill is a message center display. The bill would require the department to ensure that an advertising display that is lighted or a message center does not constitute a hazard to traffic. The bill would require the department, before the advertising display may be placed, to determine, or to request the Federal Highway Administration to determine, that the display will not cause a reduction in federal aid funds or otherwise be inconsistent with any federal law, regulation, or agreement between the state and a federal agency or department. The bill would make the City of Artesia primarily responsible for ensuring that a display remains in conformance with the ordinance and the bill's requirements, and would require the city to indemnify and hold the department harmless if the city fails to do so. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the City of Artesia.