Offensive Billboards

1. CCV's policy is not opposed to outdoor advertising. However, if outdoor advertising is used to exploit women as sex objects, CCV will take a stand to protect our women, men, and children against indecent and irresponsible attacks on our families through advertising.
2. We must hold those who continue to place profits ahead of family values accountable, as we work towards building a better environment for our children.

1. Pro-Family Leaders representing 30 million U.S. families have met with the Executive Board of the Outdoor Advertiser Association of America (OAAA) and presented the following "Code of Ethical Conduct" to the OAAA and requested all of their members to make this code their corporate policy.

1. Because outdoor advertising is an influential medium with a high profile in our urban, suburban and rural environments, and thus has a major impact on the standards, lifestyles and quality of life of our communities, the members of this association will not display ads that:
   
   
   • Present children in a sexual pose or situation.
   • Show contours of male genitals pressing against underwear or other tight clothing.
   • Focus on or emphasize the genital or pubic area, buttocks or female breast.
   • Show, give appearance of, describe or suggest urination, excretory activities or explicit sexual conduct.
   • In addition, because of the urban blight, increased crime and decreased property values proven to be caused by sexually oriented businesses such as adult bookstores, "gentleman's clubs" or striptease shows (as judicially noted by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Renton v. Playtime Inc., 1986), we will not accept advertisements from such businesses.
2. OAAA members own 90% of all billboards in the U.S. and the following procedure was agreed upon by OAAA members when dealing with citizen complaints:
   
   
   • Take three (3) photos of the offensive billboard, keeping one (1) for your records.
   • Obtain the name of the billboard company, address, phone, etc., that owns the billboard.
   • Obtain the exact address of the billboard's location, including city and state.
   • Two (2) options for citizens to pursue at this point:
   • Send a photo and all of the obtained information to Phil Burress, President of Citizens for Community Values who is serving as the National Coordinator for the Outdoor Advertising Campaign.

     Mr. Phil Burress - President
     Citizens for Community Values
     11175 Reading Rd., #103
     Cincinnati, Ohio 45241-1997

     Or send a photo and all of the obtained information to:

     Ms. Nancy Fletcher - President & CEO
     Outdoor Advertiser Association of America
     1850 "M" Street N.W., Suite 1040
     Washington, DC 20036
     

   • If you chose to send the information directly to Ms. Fletcher, please send a copy of all the information, including a photo, to Mr. Phil Burress. As the National Coordinator for the Outdoor Advertising Campaign, a nation-wide file is being accumulated.

1. For various reasons, some states have taken steps - from outright ban of all signs to just those associated with adult businesses - in order to minimize problems associated with outdoor advertising on billboards . According to FindLaw.Com, one New Jersey law allows just two signs - one for identification and one telling minors to stay out - for all sex-related businesses. A group of businesses sued the state, claiming the law violated the First Amendment right to free speech. In 1998, the New Jersey Supreme Court upheld the law, saying the state had an interest in protecting the welfare of minors and reducing crime.