John Stossel's Give Me a Break

June 20 -- Businesses are taking down perfectly good awnings in parts of New York City. Why? Because the owners were told the signs are illegal.

What's wrong with them? They don't have any nasty words on them, or obscene pictures. The words on them are simply too big, or in some cases they have too many words — or the wrong words.

What are some of the illegal words on signs? Phrases like "Free Delivery" … even business phone numbers are illegal. And authorities are writing tickets.

"It doesn't make any sense," Sal, a store owner, told us.

"I didn't know a law like this exists. … I thought it's a joke. And I laughed in his face " said Eli, another store owner.

But it was no joke. He must pay $2,500 because his sign said things like "Internet." He says for this, people escaped the Communists?

"What does it remind us? Russia," Eli said.

It is written in the law that only the name and address of a business are permitted on awnings. It's ridiculous … this is New York City.

The city is famous for its chaotic, colorful, intrusive signs.

They ‘Destroy a Community’

In most parts of town, no one enforces the law, but be glad you don't own a store on the block known as Little India.

It used to be filled with colorful signs. But the "awning police" swept through and owners had to tear down their expensive awnings right away to avoid fines.

The city says it's just enforcing the law in response to complaints. Who would complain? Well, members of civic groups, like Mary Sarro.

Sarro said, "Those ugly, ugly signs totally destroy a community."

Another "anti-awning activist," Gene Kelty, said, "I think you're going to have more car accidents while everybody's trying to read all the signs."

Kelty admits that he doesn't know if the signs have ever actually caused a car accident.

He also doesn't like signs that have phrases in foreign languages. "These foreign languages are illegal on awnings, they say, and they're dangerous because you can't understand them. … It's very confusing and it takes the attention away from the road."