Salt Lake City is poised to enact a ban on electronic billboards — a move that could signal a showdown with the billboard industry, its pro-business advocates in the Legislature, and Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, an e-billboard fan who has banked nearly $65,000 in campaign contributions from Reagan Outdoor Advertising during the past decade.

The city's proposal is meant to prevent driver distractions, but critics say it will be seen as a flashing turnoff to business.

The City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on the restrictions, which would prohibit new digital billboards along major city roadways and bar the conversion of existing billboards to their more lucrative, electronic cousins.

If state lawmakers, as some predict, step in and overrule the city, the proposed ordinance includes language that would limit e-billboard images to one change every 24 hours, rather than the customary eight seconds. Any new signs in urban zones also would have to include dimmers and go dark between midnight and 6 a.m.

Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said he can "imagine" the city's ban would draw the attention of the 2012 Legislature.

"We hate to do things that stifle business," said Waddoups, who downplayed the distraction-to-drivers fear and praised the billboard industry as "very responsible."

"The City Council's elected to represent their people. On the other hand, I don't think Salt Lake should be setting the policy for the state."

Right now, the city has six e-billboards that would not be affected by a new rule.

Mayor Ralph Becker, who battled the billboard industry as a state legislator, maintains digital signs by freeways pose a safety hazard.

"Our duty," he said, "is to construct a long-term policy solution to address how electronic-billboard advertising fits with our obligation to protect public safety and ensure a livable, sustainable environment for our residents."

But Becker's proposed ban has run into resistance — mostly from parties who benefit financially from Utah's billboard industry.

Employees and attorneys for Reagan Outdoor Advertising and Young Electric Sign Co. (YESCO) have flooded City Hall in recent weeks. They argue the interdiction is anti-business and that the public-safety threat is unfounded.

Executives from Reagan say the company takes strides to keep the bright signs away from residential patches. And Jeff Young, representing YESCO, told the council that five studies in five states charting 500 million cars showed e-billboards had no detrimental effect on drivers.

Small-business owners who use digital signs hailed their effectiveness. They urged the council not to extend the scope of the billboard ban to include "on-premise" signs. "Allowing more of them to exist would allow more businesses like mine to come into the market," said Todd Cella, who owns a basement-finishing company.

The mayor's office said e-signs used by businesses eventually would have to be addressed, but that prospect makes multiple council members uneasy.

As for roadside billboards — which are not recognized by the Legislature as "real" property — Becker's team notes they quickly diminish in value, meaning the taxes collected on them drop over time.

But Shurtleff spokesman Paul Murphy insists they have another value — as a critical crime-fighting resource during an Amber Alert.

"There's no way to put up a picture except on an electronic billboard," said Murphy, also the Utah Amber Alert coordinator.

As such, he says, the A.G.'s Office doesn't want to see fewer plugged-in signs but "more."

Since 2000, Shurtleff has taken nearly $65,000 from Reagan during three election cycles. Murphy says the money does not make "any difference" in the AG's advocacy. "Truthfully, I did not know if he received anything from Reagan," he added. "It's never been a factor in the way we do business. The issue here for us is the Amber Alert, period."

In 2010, Reagan ranked as the sixth-largest donor to Utah politicians and parties. When donations from the company's family members are included, Reagan jumps to No. 5, according to campaign finance disclosures, at nearly $168,000.

"Billboards are probably the most protected structure in the state," former Salt Lake City Councilwoman Sydney Fonnesbeck told the council. To let e-versions replace scores of roadside signs without restriction "is horrifying to me."

djensen@sltrib.com —

Vote tonight?

P The Salt Lake City Council is expected to vote on electronic billboard restrictions.

If adopted • Prohibitions would be reviewed within nine months before the ban would become permanent.

When • 7 p.m. Tuesday