(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Vince Mazzeo and John Burzichelli to remove out-of-date requirements for participation in state sign programs has been signed into law.
The law (A-3669) prohibits eligibility for sign service programs from being conditioned on whether a facility has a public telephone or free drinking water available. This applies to the sign programs implemented by the Department of Transportation, New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority.
“This cuts red tape for businesses and brings our sign programs into the 21st century,” said Mazzeo (D-Atlantic). “With this law, we help all businesses, especially those making new investments in our region. Growing industries like craft breweries and distilleries here in Atlantic County and statewide will now be able to take part in the state’s service programs and promote their business. It’s a win-win for consumers and local business.”
“The conditions that were in place were outdated and did not apply in the age of the Internet and the cell phone,” said Burzichelli (D-Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem). “Removing this language opens the sign service program to more businesses and gives them the opportunity for exposure along New Jersey’s roadways.”
As used in the law, “specific service sign program” means a program that provides for the installation and maintenance of signs along freeways, interstate highways or toll roads in this state that identify and provide directional information to motorists for gas, food, lodging, camping and attraction facilities, including, but not limited to, a tourist-oriented directional sign program, a specific service logo sign program or a highway sponsorship sign program.
