Looks like OJ's at it again.

Despite having one of the largest economies in the world, the state of California is always strapped for cash. Seemingly cutting everything in sight, and sometimes taking months just to pass a budget, the state is always looking for creative ways to make some cash.

The hands-free cell phone law was pretty effective in raising some cash when it was first put into effect, but then everyone from cops to motorists quickly stopped giving a shit. Now, with a new budget finally passed, the state needs a way to cash in, and it may have found a brilliant solution: using the 674 Amber Alert signs throughout the state for advertising purposes.

Unsurprisingly, the plan was introduced by Clear Channel, and the money spent advertising with the signs would then be put toward the state’s highway fund, which basically has no money (shocking). But it wouldn’t just be text ads on those rather ugly Amber Alert signs. Instead, the signs would be replaced with dynamic, full-color screens reminiscent of those electronic billboards all over Los Angeles.

when I first heard about this, I didn’t think it was a completely outlandish idea. I mean, there are a crapload of Amber Alert signs all over the states that aren’t in constant use. And if the state needs money, this is a good way to do it, right? But this plan to essentially replace the signs with electronic billboards (which would still display Amber Alerts when they came up) strikes me as a pretty bad idea.

For one thing, it’s rather hypocritical. People can’t talk on their phones or text message in their cars because it’s unsafe, but it’s fine to put bright, sometimes animated billboards on the freeway for people to look at instead of the road? Um…

I remember when Armageddon came out ten years ago (Jesus, is that movie really that old?) and there was a wraparound billboard on a building that made it appear that there was a hole in it from an asteroid impact. It looked so real that people were slowing down and getting in accidents to check it out.

Best part: this measure is apparently supported by state Sen. George Runner (R-Lancaster), the same guy who introduced legislation to create Amber Alerts in the first place. Guess everybody has a price.

But in all seriousness, the last thing the state needs to be doing is giving California drivers (especially the ones in LA) a reason to not pay attention and drive even worse than they already do.

California considers selling ads on signs used for Amber Alerts [Los Angeles Times]