Few People Know The Real Reason Billboards In Maine Are Banned
By Michelle|Published November 08, 2021
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Michelle
Author
Michelle's life is a colorful map of exploration and adventure. From the iconic streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida, the jagged coast of Maine to the rugged terrain of Montana, she's been fortunate to call some of America's most beautiful states home. Beyond the U.S., Michelle's wanderlust has taken her on a motorcycle journey through India, led her to teach English in Hanoi, and saw her studying Spanish in Guatemala. Michelle graduated with a communications degree from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and in addition to a career in advertising has worked with OnlyInYourState since 2016, where her love for travel and storytelling converges. Alongside writing and exploring, Michelle finds joy in photography, staying active, and time with her family.
For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
Anyone driving through Maine has noticed that the beautiful views from any road are completely visible. There are no advertising billboards blocking the forests, coasts, and mountains. This makes road trips in Maine even better. But there are times when we take this for granted. It’s not until we’re driving through a state without this no-billboard law that we realize just how obtrusive they can be. The reason behind why there are no billboards in Maine is actually pretty simple.
All over the world, driving on roads means seeing advertisements for products, services, and attractions. While they're occasionally entertaining, most of the time billboards are obtrusive.
Maine has a noticeable lack of billboards. For some, it takes driving for a bit to realize that the views are completely free of anything blocking them.
Those of us who spend most of our time here often forget just how lucky we are to have these unfettered views. In fact, until recently we never gave much thought to why the state has no billboards lining the roads. The reason is actually pretty simple!
The first state with a law banning billboards was Vermont. Maine followed in 1976 when Governor James Longley recognized that the state's tourism relied heavily on the scenery, landscape, and views in Maine.
Alaska and Hawaii have passed similar laws banning billboards.
Marion Fuller Brown, a member of the Maine House of Representatives was a champion for the bill which finally came into law in 1977. It took six years for existing billboards to be dismantled and removed. And in 1984 the last one came down from its spot along the road in York County.
The bill has been law for more than 40 years, though not without its tests. As recently as 2013, nine different bills were introduced looking for changes to the law that would allow for variances and concessions.
There's one thing to note here! Businesses in Maine are permitted to erect signs within 1,000 feet of their locations. But, of course, this is a far cry from the highway billboards you'll find anywhere else.
This simple law makes the quality of life here in Maine just a little bit nicer. What are some of your favorite roadside views that would otherwise be impossible to see? Let us know in the comments!
