Monday, June 9th, 2008 ::: USA: New York City

It doesn’t take very much research into illegal billboards to realize that Fuel Outdoor is striving to become the dirtiest billboard company in America. Practically every one of the company’s portfolio of “Metro Lights” signs were installed without permits in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Boston. (We’ll have more on the Metro Lights issue later.)

Fuel Outdoor entered the Miami market by purchasing illegal inventory from World Wide Rush, then Fuel Outdoor hired Irain Gonzales, Miami’s head of by-law enforcement.

Fuel also specializes in wallscapes like this sign at 350 West 14th Street in Greenwich Village:

A small number plate below the sign claims a permit exists:

Now look up permit 104522642:

This permit was issued to Sergio DeCordova of Fuel Outdoor in March 2007 for an “accessory” business sign, meaning third party advertising is not permitted. The complaint against the sign was filed on January 31, 2007. It remains to be seen if the first party permit allows a first party sign that large. Meanwhile, the NYC Department of Buildings has issued these Environment Control Board violations against the sign.

In this Google Street View photograph, the sign was advertising cell phones.

Of course, Fuel Outdoor is suing the City of New York claiming its signage regulations are unconstitutional. More on that, the Metro Lights, and Fuel Outdoor, later.