Caltrans Sign Ruling: Torso Yes, Logo No
A Colton topless club’s slogan and partially clad woman can stay, but highway officials have ordered the removal from three billboards a shield similar to the Interstate 215 logo.
The California Department of Transportation told owners of Club 215 that signs advertising the club violate a code prohibiting use of a state route or interstate symbol, Caltrans spokeswoman Rose Melgoza said.
But the rest of the billboards can stay: They feature the torso of a woman wearing a carpenter’s tool belt and contain a suggestive slogan.
Caltrans has jurisdiction over billboard content next to highways, but an appellate court ruled years ago that the state standard regarding nudity was too vague.
“Our interpretation is it has to be very outright, blatant [to be taken down],” Melgoza said.
Still, owners of Club 215 don’t want to remove the logo.
“No one seeing Club 215 would believe it’s sponsored by Caltrans. There’s no confusion,” club attorney Roger Diamond said.
Deadline for fixing the billboards was July 18, but Diamond’s request for a new hearing postponed that deadline, Melgoza said.
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