SYLLABUS

(This syllabus is not part of the opinion of the Court. It has been prepared by the Office of the Clerk for the convenience of the reader. It has been neither reviewed nor approved by the Supreme Court. Please note that, in the interests of brevity, portions of any opinion may not have been summarized).

State v. Wayne DeAngelo (A-73-07)

Argued September 23, 2008 -- Decided February 5, 2009

WALLACE, JR., J., writing for a unanimous Court.

The Lawrence Township sign ordinance prohibits all but a few exempted signs, and it expressly prohibits “balloon signs or other inflated signs (excepting grand opening signs) . . . displayed for the purpose of attracting the attention of pedestrians and motorists.” The issue in this appeal is whether the sign ordinance can be applied to prohibit a union from displaying as part of its protest a large inflatable rat, a symbol of labor unrest.