Sen. Tupac Hunter is joined by members of the community at a press conference where he spoke about new laws that would forbid images, like the image in the background, from being used on signs and billboards.
DETROIT — State Sen. Tupac Hunter (D-Detroit) and community members gathered in front of an adult entertainment club Friday to publicize two new laws banning explicit signs or billboards that they use to advertise their business.
The laws — which Hunter sponsored — took effect Wednesday.
“We are here today to let these businesses know that we are taking note of those that do not comply with the law and will be turning their names over to the proper authorities,” he said. “These businesses have had more than enough time to comply with the law and I expect the proper officials to enforce these laws.”
Hunter and community members held their press conference in front of the Penthouse Club, 20771 West Eight Mile Road. The club was the scene of pickets in the past by community members who objected to the club’s sign.
Hunter was joined at the press conference by community members from the Evergreen-Lahser Seven-Eight Mile Community Council, the Cherokee Norfolk Bird Chippewa Neighborhood Association, the Rosedale Park Improvement Association, the Castle Rouge Civic Association, the Eight Mile Boulevard Association and the North Rosedale Park Civic Association.
Block club members showed their support for Hunter’s bills, which they helped to win bipartisan support in the state Senate and House of Representatives.
Public Acts 342 and 343 limit billboards and signs on buildings that advertise a sexually oriented business to using only words and numbers, and allow them only to list the name and type of business, and the location and the hours of operation.
These businesses could use their trademark on a sign or billboard only if that trademark has been registered under the federal Lanham Act. The act does not allow certain images, including those that are considered immoral, to be trademarked. Businesses that fail to remove or change their signs face fines of at least $5,000 and not more than $10,000 per day.
“We worked hard to pass these laws to make our neighborhoods and communities more family friendly,” Hunter said. “I know that I look forward to being able to drive through a neighborhood without worrying about the images my children are going to see on signs and billboards.
“I thank all of the people who worked with me on these bills and who joined me today to put the Penthouse Club and others on notice. We remain committed to working with our local and state officials to see that these new laws are enforced.”
(Sen. Tupac Hunter represents the 5th District, which comprises Dearborn Heights, Inkster and northwest Detroit. He serves as the minority floor leader. He is the minority vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking & Financial Institutions and the Senate Committee on Economic Development. He is a member of the Senate Government Operations Committee.)