Billboards Ready To Light Up

Billboards in Tulsa will soon have a new, brighter look.  The city approved more than 10 LED billboards on Tuesday afternoon.  News On 6 anchor Terry Hood reports the city began allowing the LED or digital billboards at the beginning of June.

Digital advertisements have been in vogue for several years.  A popular furniture store uses one near 71^st Street and Highway 169, while others work to attract customers to the Cherokee Casino off I-44.

But LED, or light-emitting diode, billboards have not been allowed in Tulsa city limits until June 1st.  Critics say the ever-moving display is a distraction for drivers and has the potential of causing accidents on the highway.

Tuesday afternoon the city saw the plans to build as many as 11 LED billboards next to the major roads that criss-cross Tulsa.

Whistler Sign Company and Lamar Outdoor Advertising plan to put up the billboards on Highway 169, the Broken Arrow Expressway, the Inner Dispersal Loop, and I-44.  But, the city is putting some restrictions on the first round of digital billboards.

For the first six months there has to be 1,200 feet between a digital billboard and other billboards and the signs can only be placed along the freeway in commercial or industrial areas.    

The city is also restricting the brightness of the signs during the night and an image must remain on the billboard for 8 seconds before changing to another image, meaning there cannot be any animation.

The signs will also be able to help alert drivers of traffic conditions or notify them in case of an Amber Alert.

The general manager of Lamar declined an interview request from The News On 6 and a message left with Whistler was not returned.