LANSING, Mich. - State Senator Tupac A. Hunter (D-Detroit) introduced an amendment today to Senate Bill 1370 to prohibit sexually-oriented businesses from displaying all signs and billboards with the exception of one identification sign and one sign to give notice that minors are not allowed on the premises. Hunter’s amendment and SB 1370 were both passed by the Senate.

“For several months I have been concerned with the explicit billboards sprinkled along 8 Mile Road promoting topless bars and other sexually-oriented businesses,” said Sen. Hunter. “These are not the kind of images any child should view. By passing this amendment, we can be sure our neighborhoods and communities are clean of any adult-themed material and prevent young, impressionable children from viewing these signs.”

Senator Hunter has been working with a constituent from his district, Mrs. Mary Little, the President of Evergreen-Lahser/7-8 Mile Road Community Council, regarding the community’s concerns with this type of advertisement.

“There has to be a line drawn as to what images can be displayed on billboards,” said Hunter. “Several other states including New Jersey and Missouri have either proposed or passed similar legislation to ban sexually-oriented billboards. It’s time Michigan pass this legislation to prove they are a family-friendly state.”

Senate Bill 1370 amends the Highway Advertising Act of 1972 by specifying sign size, permits and fees associated with signs that are not within the current specified sign size. The amendment also increases the annual renewable fee for permits for signs.

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