Opinion ID: 600799
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: secondary effects doctrine

Text: 7 Under the secondary effects doctrine, a seemingly content-based regulation is analyzed as a content-neutral regulation if the government shows that the regulation is justified by a desire to eliminate a secondary effect--an undesirable effect unrelated to the content or communicative impact of the speech. See City of Renton v. Playtime Theaters, Inc., 475 U.S. 41, 47-49, 106 S.Ct. 925, 929-30, 89 L.Ed.2d 29 (1986) (articulating a secondary effects test for distinguishing content-based from content-neutral regulations). As stated in Ward v. Rock Against Racism, 491 U.S. 781, 791, 109 S.Ct. 2746, 2754, 105 L.Ed.2d 661 (1989), [a] regulation that serves purposes unrelated to the content of expression is deemed neutral, even if it has an incidental effect on some speakers or messages but not others. Ladue asserts that its ordinance is aimed only at preventing the adverse secondary effects caused by an over-abundance of signs in the community. The secondary effects identified by Ladue include visual blight, unsafe conditions, and decreased property values. 8 Assuming arguendo that the secondary effects doctrine extends to cases involving the prohibition of political signs on private property, 6 Ladue fails at sufficiently supporting its secondary-effects argument. Specifically, Ladue has not shown that the prohibited signs cause more aesthetic, safety, and property value problems than the permitted signs. Stated in other words, the prohibited signs are no more associated with the particular secondary effects than many of the permitted signs. 7 Compare Renton, 475 U.S. at 51-53, 106 S.Ct. at 931-32 (ordinance was aimed at the particular secondary effects that surround theaters featuring sexually explicit films). Ladue has singled out certain categories of signs for discriminatory treatment. The fact that the ordinance's differential treatment does not correlate with Ladue's interest in eliminating the secondary effects undermines Ladue's commitment to its secondary-effects justification and supports the contention that the ordinance is aimed at the content of the signs. Compare id. (concluding that Renton had not singled out adult theaters for discriminatory treatment and that there was no evidence of under-inclusiveness). In short, the ordinance's sign exceptions, many of which cause the same secondary effects as the prohibited signs, renders the secondary effects doctrine inapposite to this case. 9