Remove your flag!

TYLER-July 4th is just a few days away and to observe the holiday many East Texans decorate their homes and businesses with red, white and blue. But after one East Texas man did just that the city of Tyler is now telling him to take it down.

Cutter's Equipment is a small local business in Tyler who wanted to show off their patriotism. So they bought a flag display. But almost as fast as they put it up, the city asked for them to take it down.

They put up the display last week and just a few days later general manager Kevin Lewis said he was served a notice stating he was violating city codes and to take it down.

According to the notice he was handed, the display violates a section of the city code which states that any sign that's flashing, fluttering, undulating, swinging, rotating, or otherwise moving is prohibited.

But Lewis says there's no way he's taking it down.

"I think it's a violation of our rights to be able to fly an American flag," Lewis said.

So what's the cities response? Barbara Holly with Planning and Zoning says it's not a flag.

"It doesn't have the right number of stars or stripes," Holly said.

Officials say the display is also distracting to drivers.

But the question still remains, are these flags really a violation of city code or are they just an innocent July 4th decoration?