In Land O’ Lakes, Florida, a man named Jeff Griffin is in hot water after he parked a portable message board with three-second LED bursts. Much like a professionally done programmable LED sign, his LED sign showed his personal preferences for the upcoming election campaign. The sign is parked in front of Fairhaven Farm and is visible to travelers on State Road 52. Griffin, a business owner, ranch manager, family man and a Republican activist, explained that he had hoped the medium would be the message. The improvised programmable LED sign is a sample of what he and an engineer with LED manufacturing experience (the same one who made the now controversial LED sign) plan to create and eventually sell. Of course, his political preferences are just icing on top a contentious cake.
Now, Griffin is looking for a lawyer who is willing to advance his arguments—he claims the county is trampling on his First Amendment Rights. As it is, Pasco County has adopted a sign ordinance in 2002. The ordinance states that “activated signs” and “vehicle signs” are prohibited. The county responded by sending Griffin a cease-and-desist order citing his violation of the said ordinance. The man, however, is not one to easily back down. He moved the improvised programmable LED sign into the second fence line and added a disclaimer—“Jack Griffin endorses”—before the loop of candidate names he endorsed. Now it has become a battle between local ordinance and First Amendment rights.
One of the politicians endorsed by Griffin is arguing for a “reconsideration of the ordinance” citing the fact that the county itself uses programmable LED signs. Meanwhile, the man on the hot seat himself was quoted saying, “They put a bull’s eye on my back; I’m proud to wear it.”
Now that’s one man who is clearly attached to his LED sign.
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