WA: Federal Judge Ties Up Online Sex-Advertising Law
WIRED: A federal judge pre-emptively blocked a landmark state law that would have required online companies to verify the ages of people in ads offering “adult services,” which range from thinly-veiled ads for prostitution, as well as legal, but kinky services. | Backpage v. McKenna, No. C12-954-RSM (W.D. Wash.)
9th Circuit: Nevada has right to restrict brothel advertising
Coyote Publishing, Inc. v. Miller, No. 07-16633 (9th Cir. March 11, 2010)
At issue in this case is whether Nevada’s “restrictions on advertising by legal brothels” violate the First Amendment.
New legislation would rid streets of obscene billboards
“For some time now, I have been very concerned with the explicit billboards along 8 Mile Road promoting topless bars and other sexually-oriented businesses . . . Today, Michigan is one step closer to ridding our communities of these inappropriate billboards. Recently, the Senate has cooperated in a bipartisan fashion to pass my legislation . . . Senate Bill 266 would restrict the kind of suggestive and inappropriate images we now see on billboards.”
Will Alabama’s criminalization of sex toys reach the Supreme Court?
1568 Montgomery Highway, Inc. v. City of Hoover, No. 1070531 (Ala. Sept. 11, 2009)
SC: Federal judge strikes statute regulating “adult business” billboards
Carolina Pride, Inc. v. McMaster, No. 3:08-04016-CMC (D.S.C. Aug. 13, 2009): A federal judge held that “a South Carolina law limiting the placement of billboards advertising adult businesses is unconstitutional.” The Sign Statute at issue, S.C. Code Ann. § 57-25-145 (enacted in 2006), “prohibits most businesses which offer sexually-oriented materials or entertainment from using any ‘offpremises, outdoor advertising . . . located within one mile of a public highway.’” Grandfathered signs, such as those at issue in this case, were given until February 2009 to come into compliance with the law. Carolina Pride sued and was granted a preliminary injunction–and the government appealed.
KS district court grants injunction against enforcement of signage ordinance
Abilene Retail No. 30 Inc., d/b/a Lion’s Den Adult Superstore vs. Six, No. 09-2195-JAR, 2009 WL 1850597 (D. Kan. June 26, 2009)
Kansas district court grants preliminary injunction against the enforcement of state sexually oriented business signage ordinance.
April 1997: “Dallas, Texas: An Analysis of the Effects of SOBs on the Surrounding Neighborhoods”
An Analysis of the Effects of SOBs on the Surrounding Neighborhoods: “We found that SOBs have both a real and a perceived negative impact on surrounding properties. In such areas, crime rates are higher and property values are lower and/or the properties take longer to lease or sell.”
September 1993: St. Croix County, Wisconsin Planning Department Regulation of Adult Entertainment Establishments
Regulation of Adult Entertainment Establishments: “It is recommended that St. Croix County adopt the dispersal technique . . . Adult entertainment establishments should be permitted in the Commercial or Restricted Commercial districts with a Special Exception Permit as part of a new Adult Entertainment Overlay District.”
