Katy Dickinson

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http://blogs.sun.com/katysblog/date/20090320 Friday March 20, 2009

"Your Cell Phone Law Sucks" Billboard Still Up

On 11 February, the attention-getting tactics of Highway 101 billboards in the Silicon Valley escalated in energy, if not in good taste. For many years, these very large and expensive rental signs have competed for drivers' attention with increasingly bold bright graphics, 3D projections, and provocative text.

Last month, news sources reported that Grant Paulson of Pleasanton spent $10,000 to buy billboard space between University and Embarcadero on 101, posting a long message to California Senator Joe Simitian, criticizing him for his efforts to pass a cell phone ban for California drivers. The Senator reportedly thought the critical billboard was funny. The sign was supposed to come down by the end of February, but it was still up this morning. Maybe the billboard company does not have anyone else who wants to rent that space?

Grant Paulson Your Cell Phone Law Sucks Joe Simitian photo: copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson

The 75-word hard-to-read sign says: "Senator Joe Simitian: Your cell phone law sucks. Amazing how 1 man's bad idea can screw over & inconvenience millions of people in CA. Let's overturn this law in the next election & protect what rights we still have left."

By my own observations, many of my fellow 101 drivers ignore the new law and continue to drive with cell phone to ear, supporting Grant Paulson's sentiments in their own way. That the billboard went up and stays up is a peculiar tribute to free speech.

Image Copyright 2009 by Katy Dickinson

Posted at 04:23PM Mar 20, 2009 by katysblog in News & Reviews  |  Comments[2]