State Line advertisements meant to lure those crossing

[OCGuy81]

I was recently driving down to California via I-5 getting ready to cross into California.

There's a LOT of signs advertising cheap liquor stores, since the state still runs the liquor business in Oregon, and California is a LOT cheaper.

I recall visiting family in Wisconsin at Christmas.  There are a lot of signs on I-94/41 advertising weed dispensaries just across the border in Illinois.

As a kid, in Wisconsin, I remember a LOT of ads for casinos approaching Iowa too.

What examples can you think of where something legal and/or cheaper in one state is used to lure in travelers from an adjoining state?

[Big John]

^^ Fireworks is a popular one where sales are allowed in one state but not the next. An historical one was when oleo (margarine) was not allowed in Wisconsin so there were lots of signs selling it on the state border.

[OCGuy81]

^^ Fireworks is a popular one where sales are allowed in one state but not the next. An historical one was when oleo (margarine) was not allowed in Wisconsin so there were lots of signs selling it on the state border.

I remember my dad talking about that! He grew up in SE Wisconsin, and talked about how him and my grandpa used to go to Illinois for oleo. 

[1995hoo]

"Oleo." Wow. There's a word I hadn't heard in many years.


In terms of advertising generally, but not so much in terms of billboards, Virginia (as is the case with a number of states) has a statutory limit on the amount of alcoholic beverages you can import into the Commonwealth at one time unless you have a permit. Virginia is also an ABC store state, meaning the only places you can buy liquor in Virginia are state-run stores. Those of us in Northern Virginia have long gone to DC or Maryland to buy liquor because the prices and selection are often better. The ABC knows that, of course. They used to send personnel into DC to spy on people going to liquor stores to see who had Virginia plates and how much they bought. If they bought more than the legal limit, the spies would radio ahead to law enforcement in Virginia, who (assuming the person took the anticipated route) would then pull them over and issue a citation. I'm not aware of that sort of thing happening these days, although it's legal under the terms of the Twenty-First Amendment.

So the liquor stores in DC and Maryland used to run ads targeted to Virginia residents, and I remember at least one of them used to advertise that it wasn't subject to ABC surveillance (which always seemed dumb to me—who's to say the ABC wouldn't say, "Oh yeah?" and show up to prove them wrong). That particular store no longer exists because the shopping center where it was located was demolished and redeveloped.

[OCGuy81]

"Oleo." Wow. There's a word I hadn't heard in many years.


In terms of advertising generally, but not so much in terms of billboards, Virginia (as is the case with a number of states) has a statutory limit on the amount of alcoholic beverages you can import into the Commonwealth at one time unless you have a permit. Virginia is also an ABC store state, meaning the only places you can buy liquor in Virginia are state-run stores. Those of us in Northern Virginia have long gone to DC or Maryland to buy liquor because the prices and selection are often better. The ABC knows that, of course. They used to send personnel into DC to spy on people going to liquor stores to see who had Virginia plates and how much they bought. If they bought more than the legal limit, the spies would radio ahead to law enforcement in Virginia, who (assuming the person took the anticipated route) would then pull them over and issue a citation. I'm not aware of that sort of thing happening these days, although it's legal under the terms of the Twenty-First Amendment.

So the liquor stores in DC and Maryland used to run ads targeted to Virginia residents, and I remember at least one of them used to advertise that it wasn't subject to ABC surveillance (which always seemed dumb to me—who's to say the ABC wouldn't say, "Oh yeah?" and show up to prove them wrong). That particular store no longer exists because the shopping center where it was located was demolished and redeveloped.

I will say, California is a LOT cheaper than Oregon, also an ABC Store State.  I feel there wouldn't be an exit for Hilt, CA (first exit along I-5 in California) without a discount liquor store pandering to Oregonians.

[1995hoo]

I will say, California is a LOT cheaper than Oregon, also an ABC Store State.  I feel there wouldn't be an exit for Hilt, CA (first exit along I-5 in California) without a discount liquor store pandering to Oregonians.

The legendary, or infamous depending on your point of view, South of the Border in South Carolina got its start for similar reasons: The nearby counties in North Carolina were dry and South of the Border was located as close to the state line as possible to sell beer to North Carolinians. (I have no idea whether they were able to advertise in North Carolina back then, though of course later on their billboards were well-known.)

[hotdogPi]

Fireworks in MA for NH.

I don't know if NH billboards are allowed to advertise MA weed or not.

Other than Nevada, I'm surprised there are no prostitute billboards either for Washtenaw County MI (where it's de facto legal because the county said they wouldn't enforce state law) or for any location more than three nautical miles from the coast (where no state laws apply).

[OCGuy81]

I will say, California is a LOT cheaper than Oregon, also an ABC Store State.  I feel there wouldn't be an exit for Hilt, CA (first exit along I-5 in California) without a discount liquor store pandering to Oregonians.

The legendary, or infamous depending on your point of view, South of the Border in South Carolina got its start for similar reasons: The nearby counties in North Carolina were dry and South of the Border was located as close to the state line as possible to sell beer to North Carolinians. (I have no idea whether they were able to advertise in North Carolina back then, though of course later on their billboards were well-known.)

LOTS of fun conspiracy theories about that place, most involving money laundering.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Fireworks in MA for NH.

I don't know if NH billboards are allowed to advertise MA weed or not.

Other than Nevada, I'm surprised there are no prostitute billboards either for Washtenaw County MI (where it's de facto legal because the county said they wouldn't enforce state law) or for any location more than three nautical miles from the coast (where no state laws apply).

Not enforcing the law and letting people openly and publicly violate it (especially for one of the few things remaining that the overwhelming majority of society opposes) are two different things. The University of Michigan would raise total hell if the county became some legal sex haven.

[rlb2024]

We drove from California into Nevada a few days ago, in a remote area just outside of Death Valley National Park.  At the intersection of CA 190 and CA 127 near Death Valley Junction there was a sign for a gas station seven miles away advertising Nevada prices for gas (which are about a dollar a gallon cheaper, even in a remote area like that).

[Rothman]

Fireworks in MA for NH.

I don't know if NH billboards are allowed to advertise MA weed or not.

Other than Nevada, I'm surprised there are no prostitute billboards either for Washtenaw County MI (where it's de facto legal because the county said they wouldn't enforce state law) or for any location more than three nautical miles from the coast (where no state laws apply).

Not enforcing the law and letting people openly and publicly violate it (especially for one of the few things remaining that the overwhelming majority of society opposes) are two different things. The University of Michigan would raise total hell if the county became some legal sex haven.

No sex is legal in Ann Arbor?

[GaryV]

advertising weed dispensaries just across the border

See just about any road leading into Michigan. Weird thing, they never say marijuana, and only sometimes say cannabis. Border towns have far more dispensaries than their population could support.

[Rothman]

I will say, California is a LOT cheaper than Oregon, also an ABC Store State.  I feel there wouldn't be an exit for Hilt, CA (first exit along I-5 in California) without a discount liquor store pandering to Oregonians.

The legendary, or infamous depending on your point of view, South of the Border in South Carolina got its start for similar reasons: The nearby counties in North Carolina were dry and South of the Border was located as close to the state line as possible to sell beer to North Carolinians. (I have no idea whether they were able to advertise in North Carolina back then, though of course later on their billboards were well-known.)

LOTS of fun conspiracy theories about that place, most involving money laundering.

From my last drive past it, there's no money to launder.

[epzik8]

^^ Fireworks is a popular one where sales are allowed in one state but not the next. An historical one was when oleo (margarine) was not allowed in Wisconsin so there were lots of signs selling it on the state border.

One notorious example of this is Phantom Fireworks, especially the ones in Shrewsbury and Warfordsburg, PA.

[jeffandnicole]

^^ Fireworks is a popular one where sales are allowed in one state but not the next. An historical one was when oleo (margarine) was not allowed in Wisconsin so there were lots of signs selling it on the state border.

One notorious example of this is Phantom Fireworks, especially the ones in Shrewsbury and Warfordsburg, PA.

There's several examples in South Jersey also.

While fireworks are now legal in NJ, they're the more basic ground sparkler types, not the go-high-and-boom types that PA can sell.  Under an agreement many years ago, the billboards say in the tiniest of lettering that they are illegal in NJ.  But no one's stopping anyone from purchasing or even shooting them off. 

[tigerwings]

Shit load of Krazy Kaplins firework billboards last time I was was in Chicago.

[gonealookin]

We drove from California into Nevada a few days ago, in a remote area just outside of Death Valley National Park.  At the intersection of CA 190 and CA 127 near Death Valley Junction there was a sign for a gas station seven miles away advertising Nevada prices for gas (which are about a dollar a gallon cheaper, even in a remote area like that).

The price difference is even more dramatic from California to Arizona, leading to billboards such as this one on eastbound Interstate 40 in Needles.  Looking at Gas Buddy right now, the stations in Needles are all priced at over $6, while the Pilot station about 22 miles ahead referred to on that billboard is $3.69.

[ilpt4u]

I prefer the "opposite" signs, warnings of bootlegging when coming back into Illinois from Missouri

As seen in East Cape Girardeau after crossing the Mississippi River: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2f2kCdRFKBtnVVaE7?g_st=ic

[OCGuy81]

I prefer the "opposite" signs, warnings of bootlegging when coming back into Illinois from Missouri

As seen in East Cape Girardeau after crossing the Mississippi River: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2f2kCdRFKBtnVVaE7?g_st=ic

I haven't smoked in 20 years now, but is the price difference on cigarettes between those two states that much?

[ilpt4u]

I prefer the "opposite" signs, warnings of bootlegging when coming back into Illinois from Missouri

As seen in East Cape Girardeau after crossing the Mississippi River: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2f2kCdRFKBtnVVaE7?g_st=ic

I haven't smoked in 20 years now, but is the price difference on cigarettes between those two states that much?

Around 5$/pack higher in Illinois versus Missouri or Kentucky, so yes! Illinois is basically double the price.

Up north in Cook County is even crazier with their taxes. The collar counties in the suburbs even advertise "no Cook County taxes" at smoke shops and convenience stores/gas stations

[jeffandnicole]

As one gets on the I-76 EB Walt Whitman Bridge, there are numerous billboards, many with NJ business advertisements. The AC Casinos are a big advertiser on these, as well as some NJ Restaurants. Even the NJ Lottery had a billboard for several years on the Philly side of the bridge advertising the Powerball & Mega Millions jackpots. (Of course those games could be played in PA also, but hey, if you're coming to NJ, buy a ticket there)!

[Big John]

^^ There is a double sided billboard on I-94 extremely close to the WI/IL state line and on each side is the state lottery for the state the freeway traffic will be entering.

[SP Cook]

There is a strip club at Exit 9 of I-77 in Princeton, WV that used to have billboards as far south as Georgia advertising "We bare all in West Virginia", full nudity strippers, apparently, not being allowed in the other states the truckers would pass through on the way north. 

Haven't seen one in a few years.  Strip club is still there, though.

--

As to the lottery, and gambling generally, it used to be illegal to advertise gambling in a state that didn't have it.  I remember that Ohio had the lottery way earlier than WV or KY, but around my way they couldn't have billboards for it across the river.  In fact, they could not show the drawings on TV, since the TV stations was all in WV, and the newspaper printed the winning numbers the next day as a news story, not allowed to carry the lottery ad with yesterday's numbers atop the banner.  Eventually the Supreme Court said that all that was unconstitutional. 

[-- US 175 --]

There are lots of TV ads and billboards in north TX advertising the WinStar and Choctaw casinos of OK across the Red River.

I wonder what kind of billboards (or other advertising?) would be placed on I-40 in the TX panhandle advertising the new Glenrio Smoke Stop across the NM border.

[elsmere241]

The legendary, or infamous depending on your point of view, South of the Border in South Carolina got its start for similar reasons: The nearby counties in North Carolina were dry and South of the Border was located as close to the state line as possible to sell beer to North Carolinians. (I have no idea whether they were able to advertise in North Carolina back then, though of course later on their billboards were well-known.)

South of the Border is in Dillon County.  The county seat, Dillon, has long been a popular place for North Carolinians to get married in a hurry.