Metro’s Advertising Content Guidelines

Revised 12/17/2007

Content restrictions for advertising displayed on the Metro system are as follows:

Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising

Advertising of all alcohol and tobacco products is prohibited.

Non-Commercial Advertising

Metro does not accept advertising from non-governmental entities if the subject matter and intent of said advertising is non-commercial. Specifically, acceptable advertising must promote for sale, lease or other form of financial benefit a product, service, event or other property interest in primarily a commercial manner for primarily a commercial purpose.

Exception: Governmental entities, meaning public entities specifically created by government action, may purchase advertising space for messages that advance specific government purposes. It is Metro’s intent that government advertising will not be used for comment on issues of public debate.

Other Subject Matter Restrictions

Advertising may not be displayed if it’s content:

• Promotes or relates to an illegal activity;
• Contains language which is obscene, vulgar, profane or scatological;
• Contains images, copy or concepts that actively denigrate a specific ethnic or gender group;
• Contains images, copy or concepts that actively denigrate public transportation; or
• Contains obscene matter as defined in the Los Angeles County Code, Chapter 13.17, Section 13.17.010, or sexually explicit material as defined in the Los Angeles County Code, Chapter 8.28, Section 8.28.010D.

Metro’s Right of Rejection

Beyond the above, Metro’s vendors may review advertising content according to their own guidelines of acceptability. Metro does not screen individual ads submitted to its vendors prior to posting unless specifically requested to do so by the vendors. Nevertheless, in all contracts Metro reserves the right to reject any advertising content submitted for display on its properties and/or to order the removal of any advertising posted on its properties. Decisions regarding the rejection or removal of advertising are made by the Chief Communications Officer or their designee based upon the criteria in this policy statement.

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