Court- Law barring adult signs can stay in place

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A federal judge has ruled that a new state law banning most sexually oriented billboards along Missouri highways can remain in effect while opponents challenge it in court.

The owners of a Kansas City strip club and a company that operates adult bookstores along Interstate 70 sued the state over the law that took effect Aug. 28, saying it violates the companies' First Amendment rights to free speech.

Friday, U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner denied the companies' request for a temporary restraining order, which would have blocked the law from being enforced. Fenner said in his written ruling that because existing businesses have three years to comply with the law, they face no immediate harm.

He set a hearing in the case for Nov. 9.

Supporters say the law is an important way to protect children from seeing inappropriate material.

The law prohibits signs for sexually oriented businesses within one mile of state highways and gives businesses three years to bring existing billboards into compliance.

Eventually, an adult-oriented business located within a mile of a highway could have just two signs -- one showing the business' name and operating hours, the other noting it is off-limits to minors.

Missouri's legislation was patterned on a New Jersey law, which was upheld by that state's Supreme Court in 1998. The New Jersey court determined the law served the state's interest in protecting the welfare of minors and reducing crime.

The Missouri lawsuit was filed by Gala Entertainment of KC Inc. and Passions Video Inc.