Friday, February 10, 2012

Questioning billboard safety


From the Daily News:

After an illegally stationed billboard next to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway fell onto traffic lanes in Brooklyn last month, Councilman James Vacca is demanding more accountability on how permits for the structures are granted.

"There are now more questions than answers," said Vacca, chair of the City Council’s transportation committee.

A giant Mega Millions Lottery sign flew off a Greenpoint rooftop in 40-mph winds on Jan. 13 and smacked into the westbound area of the elevated BQE.

Vacca cited at least three billboards in his district in the east Bronx that are not in compliance with the law regulating commercial billboards, which states they are supposed to be at least 200 feet away from any major highway.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Billboards are like cell phones in cars - a dangerous distraction. Eliminate the distraction and beautify our roadsides.

LibertyBoyNYC said...

This article is inaccurate, I know because I drove past the scene the day after it happened. The sign did not "fly off a rooftop", which would imply it was of the iron-framework variety, it was a big-freestanding-iron-pole sign and it just fell right over.

This is perhaps a prelude to a ridiculously and purposefully misplaced crackdown on the wrong kind of signage. Nothing will change.

And, expect more of the same until someone dies. Then expect more of the same until the lawsuit hits home.

Anonymous said...

I have seen sign applications filed with expeditors as the applicant - plans are on a sheet of legal paper. There is no thought of structure, subgrade conditions for the sign support. I've complained to DoB about it, but they don't give a crap about training or licensure - look at the unlicensed plan examiners. Oh yeah, and the unlicensed Commissioner, LiMandri.