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Constitutional Law Keyed to Stone
Metromedia, Inc. v. City of San Diego
Citation:
453 U.S. 490 (1981)Facts
The City of San Diego enacted an ordinance that prohibited “outdoor advertising display signs” within the city. The ordinance contained exceptions for onsite signs (those identifying a business or advertising goods and services available at that location), government signs, signs at public bus stops, commemorative plaques, religious symbols, for sale/lease signs, and temporary political campaign signs. Metromedia and other outdoor advertising companies challenged the ordinance, arguing it violated their First Amendment rights. The parties stipulated that if enforced, the ordinance would eliminate the outdoor advertising business in San Diego. The billboards in question were located in areas zoned for commercial and industrial uses and carried both commercial and noncommercial messages. The city justified the ordinance as necessary to improve traffic safety and the appearance of the city. The California Supreme Court upheld the ordinance, finding it a proper exercise of the city’s police power.
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