Missouri- The owner of two Mid-Missouri adult video stores and a Kansas City businessman filed a request last week in federal court seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction on the state’s new law restricting adult business signage along Missouri highways.https://www.adultfyi.com/read.aspx?ID=2779

Gene Gruender, owner of Passion’s and Passion’s Too, and Anthony Wright, owner of Gala Entertainment, filed their request in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City.

Gruender, a Lakeway, Texas, resident, promised months ago to file the request after the General Assembly overwhelmingly supported the bill sponsored by state Sen. Matt Bartle, R-Lee’s Summit. Gov. Bob Holden signed the bill in June, and it goes into effect today.

Gruender, whose two stores are along Interstate 70 in Cooper and Saline counties, contends the law is unconstitutional. He has advertised on more than 25 billboards along Missouri highways and intends to put up more.

“You just have to stand up for your rights,” he said. “We have great hopes that a federal judge will grant the restraining order almost immediately until it can be heard.”

Gruender said he’s received a lot of support in his fight against the signage law.

“Other business owners, to suppliers, to customers off the street donated money to help pay for this,” he said.

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon has 30 days to file a response to the plaintiff’s petition.

The new law restricts the size and placement of any adult business signs along Missouri highways. It limits each business to two signs that must be attached to the building and restricts the content to the name and operating hours of the business and information denoting that minors are not allowed inside.

Businesses already in operation with signs have three years to come into compliance with the new law.