Electronic signage

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Electronic signage (also called electronic signs or electronic displays) are illuminant advertising media in the signage industry. Major electronic signage include fluorescent signs, HID (high intensity displays), incandescent signs, LED signs, and neon signs. Besides, LED signs and HID are so-called digital signage.

Contents

Status

Electronic signs may be used indoors or outdoors. The display technologies are varied and changing quickly. Because of new display technologies, electronic signs are able to present more clear, colorful, and vivid images. Animated electronic signs gradually replace traditional static signs and increasingly take signage market share.

Average percentage of various signs usage

Type of Signage [1] 200120022003
Fluorescent47.3%46.9%46.3%
HID (High Intensity Display)1.9%2.4%2.0%
Incandescent2.0%1.9%1.8%
LED 3.9%6.2%7.2%
Neon 43.0%41.3%41.7%
Others1.9%1.2%0.9%

Regulation (USA)

It is not difficult to have an electronic sign for your business; however, it is not simple to get a permit to install an electronic sign. There are two terms for the advertising industry, off-premises advertising device and on-premises advertising device. Usually, there are different regulatory and zoning set up by different cities for different types of advertising media.

Results of State Statutory Review

Source: [2]

Prohibitions on Signs......with red, flashing, intermittent, or moving lights, unless it is a public service display...that are not sufficiently shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from causing a glare or vision impairment that affects driver vision...that are placed so as to obscure or interfere with traffic control devices...that are so illuminated as to obscure or interfere with traffic control devices...located on interstate or primary highway outside of zoning authority of incorporated cities within 500 ft of an interchange or intersection at grade or safety roadside rest area...other state highway says 300 ft limit...directional signs may not be located within 200 ft of an interstate, or intersection at grade along the interstate system or other freeway, or within 2,000 ft of a rest or scenic area or parkland...timing limit
Alabama YesYesYesYesYesYes
Alaska
Arizona YesYesYesYes
Arkansas YesYesYesYesYes
California YesYesYesYesYesYes4 sec-message display, 1 sec-message change
Colorado

NOTE: prohibits signs which have a moveable advertising face permitting any change in sign content or message

YesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Delaware YesYesYesYesYesYes
Florida YesYes1,500 ft on interstate; 1,000 ft on federal aid primary highway
Georgia

NOTE: prohibits signs with moving orcertain conditions are met

YesYesYesYesYesYesMessage fixed for at least 10 sec, message changed in 3 sec or less, 5,000 ft spacing, default freezing sign if malfunction occurs
Hawaii
Idaho

NOTE: adds in blue lights

YesYesYesYes between displays on interstate or primary highway or public/scenic area; 1,000 ft from an interchange or rest areaYesExposure time is long enough at maximum speed limit for sign message to be readable and comprehensible
Illinois YesYesYesYesYesYes
Iowa

NOTE: prohibits animated or moving parts in a sign

YesYesYesYesYesTri-vision signs 4 sec minimum display, 2 sec for transition
Indiana

NOTE: prohibits animated or moving parts

YesYesYesYesYesYes
Kansas YesYesYesYesYes
Kentucky

NOTE: prohibits animation and movement except for movement on and off of the sign

YesYesYesYesYesTotal message displayed within 10 sec, with each segment having a display time of 2 sec including change time
Louisiana

NOTE: statute obtained does not have information on restrictions

Signs must be readily viewed for a time of 5 sec from the roadway at posted speed limit
Maine
Michigan YesYesYesYesYesYes
Massachusetts

NOTE: prohibitions appear to be adopted by reference incorporating federal regulations

Not more than 3 rotating or alternate messages may be displayed on a sign
Minnesota YesYesYesYes
Mississippi YesYesYesYesYesYes, 350 ft
Missouri YesYesYesYesYesYes
Montana YesYesYesYes
New Hampshire

NOTE: statute has no language on any prohibitions or restrictions

Nebraska YesYesYes
Nevada YesYesYesYesYesMinimum display time of 6 sec, maximum change interval of 3 sec
New Mexico

NOTE: prohibits animation or moving parts

YesYesYesYesYesYes
New Jersey

NOTE: prohibits animation and moving parts

YesYesYesYesYesYesMinimum message time of 8 sec, maximum change time of 2 sec
New York

NOTE: prohibits animation or moving parts except for public service announcement

YesYesYesYesYesYes
North Carolina YesYesYesYesYes
North Dakota YesYesYesYesYes
Ohio

NOTE: no statutory information obtained

Oklahoma YesYesYes
Oregon YesYesYesYes
Pennsylvania YesYesYesYesYesYes
Rhode Island

NOTE: prohibits animation and moving parts

YesYesYes, 750 ftYes, 250 ft
South Carolina YesYesYesYesYesViewing time 5 sec from roadside when traveling at speed limit
Tennessee YesYesYesYes, 1,000 ftYes, 500 ftYes
Texas

NOTE: no statutory literature included in file

Vermont
Virginia YesYesYesYesYes
Washington

NOTE: prohibits animation and moving parts

YesYesYesIf sign change exceed 4 sec, turn sign off during change
Washington, DC
West Virginia YesYesYesYesChange time of 5 sec maximum without written approval
Wisconsin YesYesYesYesYes
Wyoming YesYesYesYesYesYes
Total of 42 states36361529282122

Note: 10 states prohibit animation or moving parts except for public service announcement

See also

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References

  1. "Signs of the Times". Archived from the original on 1996-12-20. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
  2. Research Review of Potential Safety Effects of Electronic Billboards on Driver Attention and Distraction - Final Report