Missouri’s so-called sexy billboard law has been struck down as unconstitutional by a federal appeals court panel. The three-judge panel of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis overturned an earlier ruling that the restriction on sexually suggestive billboards was within the guidelines of the Constitution. The law, passed during the 2004 legislative session, banned the billboards within a mile of state highways. Plaintiffs in the case included Passions Video – an adult book and video shop – and a couple of Kansas City strip clubs – Satin Dolls and Johnnie O’s. If allowed to go into effect, the law would require that the billboards be taken down by the midle of next year. The state has the option of appealing the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
