Are there any laws related to the regulation of the media and advertising?

In Virginia, the media and advertising is subject to the regulation of local governments by way of both state and federal laws. Virginia Code Sections 15.2-1013 and 15.2-1015 allows a locality to regulate the content of advertising and media. The Virginia DMV Code 15.2-1013 holds that any locality with a population of 10,000 people or more can regulate the content of any advertising or media that is published within their jurisdiction. The regulation of the content must be reasonable and must not abridge the freedom of speech. The Virginia DMV Code 15.2-1015 further allows any locality to impose reasonable regulations on the placement and type of any advertisement displayed on public property, for the purposes of maintaining public health, safety, and welfare. A local government may require a permit for the display of an advertisement on public property. Local governments in Virginia are also subject to the regulations imposed by federal law. The Supreme Court has held that the right to free speech is not absolute, meaning it can be regulated as long as the regulation is reasonable, content-neutral, and promotes a substantial government interest. These laws provide local governments in Virginia with the ability to regulate media and advertising in order to ensure public health, safety, and welfare. Through reasonable regulation, local governments can prevent offensive content from being displayed, while still allowing the free expression of ideas.

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