MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. – Montgomery County is getting ready to change its sign ordinance on the basis of a 2015 U.S. Supreme Court case.
That case found that localities cannot have different ordinances for different types of signs, like religious, political, or commercial.
But the county is adding a restriction that applies to windows, and some businesses aren't happy about it.
The new restriction says businesses will now have to limit the size of window signs to no more than 50 percent of the glass.
That's drawn criticism as a violation of free speech from people like "Adventure Hobbies and Toys" owner Stacy Martin.
"Right now they're trying to get 50 percent. Next thing you know, they'll be at 60 or 70 percent, or 85 percent, and what will happen is we will have to lose the right to use our own windows as we see fit," Martin said.
But Supervisor Board Chair Chris Tuck said it's, in part, about safety.
"When you're talking about convenience stores that are open 24 hours a day, and a law enforcement officer being able to see into the store when he's driving by was one of the safety concerns that was raised," Tuck said.
The issue will be heard at a public hearing Monday at 7:15 p.m. in the County Government Building.