LANSING- Tupac Hunter (D-Detroit) said today that Michigan is a step closer to joining other states that have banned explicit billboards now that the Senate Transportation Committee has acted on his bill to ban this kind of advertising. Senate Bill 266 would only allow billboards that advertise a sexually-oriented business to list the name and type of business, the location, and the hours of operation.

“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,” said Sen. Hunter. “These are not the kind of images any child should view. As a father myself, these are not billboards that I want my son to see. By passing my bill we can be sure our neighborhoods and communities are clean of any adult-themed material and prevent young, impressionable children from viewing these signs.”

Senator Hunter has worked Mrs. Mary Little, a constituent from his district and the President of Evergreen-Lahser/7-8 Mile Road Community Council, regarding the community’s concerns with this type of advertisement.

“It is time to say that enough is enough and to draw the line as to what images can be displayed on billboards,” said Hunter. “Other states including New Jersey and Missouri have either proposed or passed similar legislation to ban sexually-oriented billboards. It’s time for Michigan to show that we too are a family-friendly state and pass this legislation.”

Last year, the Senate approved an amendment to Senate Bill 1370 and sponsored by Senate Hunter that would have restricted signs for sexually-oriented businesses. That bill died last December at the end of the legislative session.

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Sen. Hunter represents the 5th district, which is comprised of northwest Detroit, Dearborn and Inkster. He serves as Minority Vice Chair of the Banking & Financial Institutions and the Homeland Security & Emerging Technologies Committees. He is also a member of the Commerce & Tourism and the Economic Development & Regulatory Reform Committees.