According to the billboard owner, the sign was purchased by a group of small business owners located in the seven-county metro area.

While billboard owners traditionally do their best to keep these signs visible and free of plant growth, a new trend emerged in recent years.

McGreevey administration officials tried to foist the most visible taxes on groups unlikely to generate much sympathy: smokers, casino operators and billboard owners.

Will lawmakers slip a break for billboard owners into the budget compromise?

Some communities have forced billboard owners to modify or turn off such signs, and the federal government has said it will soon publish a review of the research on the subject.

When billboard owners refused to cooperate in the early 1990s, Pfleger and others decided to climb ladders and deface the signs.

As yet, no billboard owner or advertiser has lodged such a complaint.

McGreevey officials said the billboard owners were understating their profits.

The makers also had trouble with some billboard owners who refused to carry advertising for the film, with Comfort complaining one Jewish company owner was particularly opposed.

The billboard owner replaced the billboard shortly thereafter.