There's a battle brewing on the East End over two 61-foot-tall electronic billboards on Sunrise Highway being built by the Shinnecock Indian Nation.

The two towers, which are on both sides of the highway in Hampton Bays, will be used as advertising space to raise money for their reservation. The Shinnecock reservation is about 5 miles away from the billboards in Southampton.

Southampton town officials admit that the Shinnecocks own the property where the work is being done. But they say the structures don't belong there.

"We do believe these signs violate federal highway law. But I'm also appealing to the conscience of the Shinnecock Nation," says Southhampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman. "I know a lot of people who live on that reservation and I cannot believe that this is anything they'd want to do."

The Shinnecocks say as a federally recognized tribe, they are not subject to any local zoning laws.

Tribal trustees declined News 12's request for an interview.