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local regulations often exempt the time and temperature por- tion of signs from the prohibition on flashing.Note that,in ,t drafting such a prohibition,it is important to exempt only that portion of the sign,rather than"time and temperature • } signs" in general; otherwise, a creative sign designer can 1 1 • t avoid the prohibition on flashing signs by installing a sma clock or thermometer in the corner of a larger flashing sign. Electronic Marquees ' Electronic marquees are replacing manual marquees at many cinemas and theatres, and they are being used as general advertising devices in many other situations.Some electronic marquees show messages and graphics that change constantly,while others are changed at infrequent intervals. Some are used to display stock quotations and thus are changed six times a day, five days per week. Clearly,the marquees that are changed infrequently are not {` "flashing" and should be exempted from a definition of flashing signs if the definition is otherwise broad enough to RES TAURAW include them. Because such signs generally use exposed bulbs to display changing messages,limitations on lighting types, as well as limitations on flashing signs, may affect these devices. JA Beacons Many local sign regulations prohibit beacons, which, unlike most flashing signs,may disturb residents blocks or ;rr.. even miles away from the location of the beacon. rs w Sign Lighting There are three basic methods of lighting signs:internal lighting that shines through a plastic or other translucent covering;direct external lighting,such as flood or spotlights; and lighting that is external but integral to the sign,such as bulbs that spell out the sign message. Some local sign regulations contain no restrictions on lighting.Very restrictive regulations may permit only direct, external lighting.There are many variations in between the o two extremes,and,again,the choices are mainly aesthetic. As noted above, some sign regulations impose special E lighting restrictions on signs within a specific distance of residential property.Lighting restrictions may also vary by zone district.Many communities allow more extensive use Here is a fairly cornrnon combination of signs. Some are aimed at passing motorists on the street in front of the motel. The of lighting in a downtown zone than in other districts.Some others are"im isible-to passersby and are instead aimed at even encourage lighted and flashing signs downtown in passengers on a nearby highway, order to bring a sense of life to an area that otherwise may appear dreary.In doing so,they are following the philoso- phy of managers and merchants of enclosed shopping malls, the issue is one for local policy resolution. who often use lighted and moving signs on store fronts that Some trailer-type portable signs include rows of colored are well-lit from the mall lighting; the sole purpose of that lights that flash in sequence.Such a sign feature is sometimes lighting is to create the kind of visual interest that will draw separately addressed, with a provision of the regulations customers into the store. prohibiting signs that might be confused with traffic signals Probably the most common restriction on sign lighting is or warning devices. Such a restriction creates some risk of one prohibiting internally lighted signs.That is an aesthetic arbitrary administration.That is not an issue in the model judgment,usually directed at bright logo signs with a com- ordinance, which prohibits portable signs and allows pany's symbol displayed in color against a glowing white flashing signs only in certain zones. background. However, some very elegant business parks now use, and some communities even require, internally Time and Temperature Signs lighted signs that show up white letters against a dark,earth- Because many definitions of flashing signs are so broad toned background. Such a sign looks like a plain, flat sign that they ensnare signs that change as the time or during the day and provides readable letters at night with- temperature changes, or that flash from one to the other, out the glare often caused by external lighting. 9