North Carolina voters oppose proposed changes to state law that would take away local control of billboards and would allow more electronic billboards along highways and roadsides, according to a new statewide poll released by the N.C. League of Conservation Voters.
The telephone survey indicates that North Carolina voters overwhelmingly hold the view that billboards detract from the appearance of communities and strongly believe that placement of billboards should remain a local decision.
- 78% of Independent voters, 70% of Democratic voters and 68% percent of Republican voters, hold the view that billboards detract from the appearance of communities and strongly believe that placement of billboards should remain a local decision.
- More than 80% of those surveyed said they opposed removing more trees so that billboards could be seen for longer distances.
- Two thirds of those surveyed said they generally opposed any increase in the number of billboards in North Carolina.
- There is virtually no support from North Carolina voters for having the state tell local communities where and what kind of billboards can be put within their boundaries,” said Tom Jensen, director of Public Policy Polling, a Raleigh-based firm that does public opinion surveys. “This is a rare issue where Democrats, Republicans, and independents are all in agreement.”
- 80% of voters surveyed opposed allowing up to seven electronic billboards per mile.
- An overwhelming 70 percent of North Carolina voters surveyed said that electronic billboards that flash changing ads every eight seconds would present a distraction to motorists.
- 68% of those surveyed said they almost never use a billboard in deciding where to buy a product or service, 20% used billboards a few times a month and 9% said they did so a few times a week.
- 90% of voters surveyed said state lawmakers should focus on creating jobs than weakening billboard restrictions, the same among Republicans, Democrats and Independents.
The poll was commissioned by the N.C. League of Conservation Voters based on the concerns expressed by a number of local community groups including Wilmington Council of Neighborhood Associations, Durham Inter Neighborhood Council, and Winston-Salem Neighborhood Alliance.
Contact: Carrie Clark, NCLCV
Tom Jensen, Public Policy Polling
For more information on proposed Billboard legislation, www.Savetheview.org
1 comment:
The NC residents do have a point when it comes to regulating the billboards on their area. But as a designer in an advertising agency in New York, I think the ads only show that we are progressing ideally and economically.
Post a Comment