Community Testimonials

The Latest Use for Digital

Police Call for Help to Find Missing Man in Iowa
WATERLOO, IA--Mary Porath's phone rang at 9:30. At home. Sunday morning (November 4).

Mary is the office manager for Lamar Advertising Company-Waterloo. The caller was the watch commander of the local police department. Could Mary help police find a man with dementia who didn't return home after a visit to a local casino? The police department e-mailed a photo of the missing man, it was quickly posted on a digital billboard, and the man was located safely within hours.

This recent example highlights key points about the power and effectiveness of digital billboards:

• Police are asking for help via billboards, digital and conventional. An accused drug smuggler was recently apprehended in Daytona Beach, FL, after his picture appeared on digital billboards.
• Digital billboards work on deadline, even when the office is closed. The I-35W bridge collapsed in Minneapolis at 6:19 pm on August 1; digital messages were posted within 15 minutes.

“Our study has turned up no accidents reported to local police in the vicinity of the digital signs we’ve been monitoring..”
September 24, 2007 email to OAAV.

James R. Barrett, C.P.E.S.C.
Regulatory and Compliance Manager
Asset Management Division
Virginia Department of Transportation

"When Senator Coleman and I landed, we’re driving in . . . and there were already billboards at 9:00 in the morning -- actual billboards -- telling people where to go for alternative routes."

- Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) - August 2, 2007

Here’s what people are saying about digital billboards:

• "With a year behind us, we have no knowledge of any wreck or any complaints of wrecks or any distractions at any of the billboard sites."
  -- Bill Light, West Virginia Department of Highways division chief for outdoor advertising, referring to digital billboards in West Virginia, July 24, 2007

• "High-tech billboards are the latest way to reach the public."
  -- John Walsh, founder, America’s Most Wanted

• "Digital billboards are right in line with the whole cityscape. It communicates that we are a city that embraces technology. We actually have some of the newest state-of-the-art, cutting edge advertising."
  -- City Councilman Joe Cimperman, Cleveland, OH

• "Our mayor thought it would be a good idea to partner with them to utilize this new technology."
  -- Nadine Martinez, marketing development manager, City of Albuquerque (which uses digital billboards to deliver information to the public).

• "The (Wisconsin) Department of Justice thanks all our dedicated AMBER Alert partners: Wisconsin broadcasters, Dane County 911, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the Wisconsin Lottery, Outdoor Advertising Association of Wisconsin, state and local law enforcement, and citizens."
  -- Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen

• "Whereas, advances in technology have made electronic message devices more cost effective to produce and more popular for outdoor advertising..."
  -- Arkansas State Highway Commission, Minute Order, January 10, 2007

• "Having that large (lottery) jackpot out there does help our sales."
  -- Stephanie Weyant, Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

• "I think it’s the old adage, a picture says a thousand words. Not everyone listens to the local radio or reads the paper. So, this is another media outlet."
  -- Port Huron (Michigan) Police Officer Chris Frazier. Digital billboards in Port Huron are helping law enforcement.