PSTA will reconsider ad ban for nonprofits In 1999, the transit authority decided it did not want to be a "public forum" for messages from noncommercial advertisers.

MONIQUE FIELDS, Times Staff Writer
St. Petersburg Times
February 6, 2002
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/02/06/NorthPinellas/PSTA_will_reconsider_.shtml Pinellas County's transit authority is reconsidering its ban on nonprofit advertising after Crime Stoppers questioned why it couldn't put its slogan on buses.

Crime Stoppers' proposed advertisements would splash an entire bus with an advertisement and place smaller ads on 20 buses at a total cost of $31,000. The messages ask anyone with information about a crime or a fugitive to pass it along anonymously for reward money.

"What a great way to reach a great many people," said Susan Fraley, a coordinator for Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County Inc.

Trouble is, such an arrangement is not allowed under a Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority's policy. Undeterred, Crime Stoppers asked PSTA to reconsider its policy last month.

The request comes two years after the agency decided to allow only advertisements from commercial businesses. That decision came after the transit authority found itself tangled between the Church of Scientology and a group of church critics who purchased anti-Scientology ads in December 1998.

The agency said in 1999 that it didn't want to become a "public forum" for advertisers. The downside of the policy, though, was that public service announcements traditionally purchased by nonprofit groups such as Crime Stoppers would no longer be allowed.

Since then, groups requesting to advertise on buses have been turned down, including the state Health Department. Another group, Focus on the Family, has challenged PSTA for rejecting its bus shelter ads promoting a conference in Brandon that addressed preventing homosexuality among youth.

The advertisements didn't appear at shelters in Pinellas, and Focus on the Family filed a motion seeking an injunction against PSTA that is pending.

PSTA administrators say they have to be careful and can't base a decision on the content of the ad.

"The more it's based upon the message, the more, again, that you can be challenged in your decision," said Alan Zimmet, an attorney representing PSTA.

Still, Zimmet is researching whether to allow groups such as Crime Stoppers to advertise. He said he may make a presentation to the board in March or April.

"Under the law, you can't modify or prohibit the message," said PSTA executive director Roger Sweeney. "And so if I said Crime Stoppers is okay, how can I say antigay is wrong and you won't do it? I can't."

But Crime Stoppers has proposed the agency change its advertising policy to allow a public safety exception.

"I don't see that as controversial or as a big problem," said Jack St.

Arnold, president of Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County Inc. "I'd like to see them take our money, and I'd like to see us continue getting the Crime Stopper message out."

At least one PSTA board member agrees.

PSTA board chairman Calvin Harris said Sept. 11 "requires us to do everything differently, especially for public safety and the well-being of the community."

In 1999 the PSTA board was under pressure and time constraints to make a decision, said Harris, also a Pinellas County commissioner. Now, Harris said, the board can take the opportunity to improve the advertising policy.

Across the bay, HARTline rolled out three buses painted with Crime Stopper advertisements in January. The agency doesn't accept ads for alcohol, tobacco or firearms; and its executive director has the final say on advertisements, particularly those that may be deemed in poor taste, said Ed Crawford, a spokesman for HARTline.

Crawford said the HARTline policy works, and the agency has never been sued in a matter involving advertising.

PSTA "erred on the side of caution," Crawford said. "We just tried to institute a reasonable standard."

Crime Stoppers is hopeful the matter in Pinellas can be resolved.

"We're saying you could probably accomplish the same goals you looking for if you had a public safety exception in there," St. Arnold said.

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