Caltrans Flags Four Digital Billboards Along 405
The state transportation agency says four digital signs on two WOW Media structures in Inglewood violate the Outdoor Advertising Act.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Advertising
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The California Department of Transportation sent letters dated Oct. 30 to WOW Media identifying four digital billboard signs on two structures along the 405 Freeway as violating the Outdoor Advertising Act. Each violation could carry a $10,000 fine plus daily penalties, though no penalties have been charged yet.
Why it matters
The findings could force the billboards to be taken down or altered, affecting one of Inglewood's major digital advertising operators. The dispute also comes as voters weigh Measure BB, which would ban most commercial advertising along Inglewood's public roads and sidewalks.
Caltrans cites four digital signs on two structures, each potentially subject to a $10,000 fine plus daily penalties, with the signs measuring 60 feet long and 20 feet high and sitting about 50 feet off the ground. No penalties have been charged, and WOW Media has said it plans to appeal the determination.
The players
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
California's state transportation agency, which enforces the Outdoor Advertising Act governing billboard placement along state highways.
WOW Media
A Los Angeles-based advertising company that builds and maintains many digital billboards in Inglewood.
The details
Caltrans says the signs, located on La Cienega Boulevard adjacent to the 405 Freeway on property the violation notices identify as owned by Inglewood, breach distance requirements meant to improve public safety and reduce visual clutter. WOW Media, a Los Angeles-based company that builds and maintains many digital billboards in Inglewood, plans to appeal, having previously appealed a Caltrans finding in 2022.
Timeline
2022: WOW Media appealed a prior Caltrans finding and met with the agency.
Oct. 30: Caltrans sent violation letters to WOW Media.
Legal Context
The Caltrans findings rest on the California Outdoor Advertising Act, which sets distance requirements for billboards near highways to improve safety and reduce visual clutter. The enforcement effort lands as Inglewood voters weigh Measure BB, a local ballot measure that would ban most commercial advertising on city roads and sidewalks.
Residents driving the 405 near La Cienega Boulevard may see the digital signs altered or removed if Caltrans enforcement succeeds. The outcome could also shape how much commercial advertising remains on Inglewood's roads and sidewalks if Measure BB passes.
The takeaway
Enforcement disputes over outdoor advertising often hinge on distance and placement rules that residents rarely see up close. Watching how the WOW Media appeal and the Measure BB vote play out will show how Inglewood balances advertising revenue against roadside clutter.
Further reading
For more on local ad rules, see Advertising coverage of Inglewood.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Times.
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