Dallas sign ordinance facing opposition

DALLAS, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- A libertarian organization is suing the city of Dallas, alleging a city ordinance limiting advertisements in business windows violates business owners' rights.

The non-profit Institute for Justice insists that when Dallas officials put strict limits on storefront window advertising, they violated business owners' free speech rights, The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday.

Matt Miller, executive director of the institute's Texas chapter, said Dallas businesses rely heavily on window signage to communicate with their customers.

"Dallas's law has cut off that means of communication for them," he said.

Dallas City Attorney Tom Perkins maintains the ordinance is constitutional, given it simply places "limitations" on storefront advertisements.

"The city allows property owners to convey their legitimate commercial messages. There are some limitations, but the ordinance is content-neutral," Perkins said.

Perkins told the Morning News that, under federal law, local governments are allowed to impose regulations on signs when safety and aesthetics are concerned.