Saturday, May 29, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Fur flies over car dealer's flags

Memorial Day or not, city's code enforcers order 'attention gaining devices' off vehicles

American flags fly from cars at Prestige Infiniti on Friday. The city of Las Vegas ordered the dealership to remove the flags because they violate the area's ban on "attention gaining devices." The dealership refused to remove the flags. Photo by K.M. Cannon. Prestige Infiniti General Manager Pete Urso talks Friday about the city of Las Vegas' order to remove American flags from the cars at his dealership. Photo by K.M. Cannon.

To Pete Urso, the American flags at his car dealership are a sign of patriotism. But to the city of Las Vegas, they're a no-no.

Calling the flags "attention gaining devices," the city this week ordered Urso to remove the dozens of flags flying from vehicles at the Prestige Infiniti dealership near U.S. Highway 95 and the Las Vegas Beltway in northwest Las Vegas.

"Issuing a citation to me and my company for putting up flags on Memorial Day, that's absurd," said Urso, the dealership's general manager.

Urso had about 150 of the small flags put up Tuesday to recognize the Memorial Day holiday. He planned to take them down next week, he said.

The next day, a city code enforcement officer issued a correction notice ordering the dealership to remove the flags by 3 p.m. Friday or face fines and possibly criminal prosecution.

"I'm in violation for representing our country," Urso said.

Heather Curry, a Las Vegas spokeswoman, said the city is enforcing regulations that govern all businesses in the Centennial Center development.

According to the written notice, the flags are "attention gaining devices" that are banned, along with balloons, searchlights, pennants, portable signs and other traditional car dealership fare.

The regulations do not make exceptions for U.S. flags.

"It's not that we're unpatriotic," Curry said.

City officials met with several dealerships in the area last week to discuss problems with such banned devices, she said.

Cars at dealerships across the street from Prestige Infiniti were flying flags Friday, but they were emblazoned with dealership logos, not the stars and stripes.

Friday's deadline passed without any city action, but Urso was bracing for another visit next week.

Urso and dealership owner Dan Towbin have vowed to fight the city to the Supreme Court, if necessary.

"I want to keep the flags up, and whatever the consequences are, they are," Urso said.

No matter what happens, the flags will fly on the Fourth of July and every other patriotic holiday from here on out, he said.

"I believe it's a right we have in this country to display the flag," Towbin said. "And no city official is going to tell me otherwise."