Several Baltimore County business owners said they are exploring legal action against the county after lawmakers adopted new restrictions on electronic commercial signs.
Members of the Baltimore County Council this week passed legislation banning signs that flash, blink or scroll and restricting changes to the copy on signs to 15-second intervals. Supporters called the law a compromise between the former law — which permitted electronic signs to change only once an hour — and the three-second interval business owners requested.
“The community stressed that they were concerned about the blinking and strobing, which to me was more of a distraction than the sign changing,” said Councilman John Olszewski. “This way, we address some of the concerns of the community and the needs of small businesses.”
But many business owners said the compromise just isn’t enough. The signs aren’t traffic hazards, they said, and 15 seconds doesn’t allow motorists to see more than one message before they pass a business.
Business leaders also took issue with an exemption for public buildings.
“All of these signs are on businesses on land zoned for business, not in the middle of neighborhoods,” said Harry Cohen, owner of Firehouse Tavern in Carney. “The county has exempted themselves, and it’s the libraries and schools that are sitting in the middle of neighborhoods.”
Cohen said he and at least two other business owners have contacted an attorney and are considering a lawsuit.
Three of the council’s seven members voted against the new rules, including Council Chairman Kevin Kamenetz, who advocated a half-hour interval. Kamenetz said business owners “should be happy we are legitimizing the signs and authorizing their use.”
Howard and Montgomery counties limit electronic signs to one change every 24 hours, though lawmakers said the rule is not strictly enforced. In Anne Arundel County, a proposal to limit sign changes to once every five seconds failed last year.
“I commend them for doing this because these signs are absolute nuisances.” said Jamie Benoit, the Anne Arundel councilman who sponsored the proposal. “I intend to bring my bill back.”
