Freethought & Rationalism Archive

john_v_h · 07-10-2003, 10:43 AM

Federal Judge Blocks Anti-Abortion Plates

Choose Life Louisiana

Arken · 07-10-2003, 12:06 PM

Faith in humanity beginning to return...

faust · 07-10-2003, 01:56 PM

Weeee! Those things always annoyed the crap out of me. Not that they have "Choose Life" but that I couldn't get a specialty plate that said "Pro-choice Man, I respect Women" or even better "Christians are completely insane, keep your damned god away from me and my car."

Anyway, after having been in Alabama for a visit, coming back to louisiana is almost bearable.

beejay · 07-10-2003, 02:28 PM

Quote:

William Rittenberg, an attorney for the plaintiffs, noted the ruling does not ban specialty plates, but merely the way the state now authorizes them. He said the state could pass a law similar to other states which allow specialty
plates to be issued if a certain number of people request them.

I don't doubt this is true. So it's not the "Choose Life" that's unconstitutional, just the State controlling what messages can be on the plates.

Quote:

"Christians are completely insane, keep your damned god away from me and my car."

I wonder how many people have to sign up to request that plate?

(In Indiana I think it's 1000, at least for college plates.)

AquaVita · 07-10-2003, 03:56 PM

I don't understand the logic behind the judges decision.

From the article:

Quote:

"If the state built a convention hall for speech and then only allowed people to speak with whom they agreed with their message, the state's actions would be in contravention of the First Amendment," Duval wrote. "There is no significant difference in the case before the court."

This makes no sense, unless the state was prohibiting the making of pro choice license plates. Were they? Or have I missed something...

RufusAtticus · 07-10-2003, 04:33 PM

It sounds like this decision is similar to the one which doomed the SC anti-abortion plate. In that case the state courts rulled that the legislature had done an end-round the SC constitution by authorizing the plates. Apparantely SC law states that only the DMV can issue speciality plates and only after a public petition has been filed.

RufusAtticus · 07-10-2003, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AquaVita
This makes no sense, unless the state was prohibiting the making of pro choice license plates. Were they? Or have I missed something...

The state is prohibited from choosing what goes on speciality license plates. However, the people can choose by petitioning the state to design ones they want.

AquaVita · 07-10-2003, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RufusAtticus
The state is prohibited from choosing what goes on speciality license plates.

Hmm...is this just in that particular state? I'm pretty sure here in texas that the state does choose designs. (they're pretty benign designs, non controversial)

RufusAtticus · 07-11-2003, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AquaVita
Hmm...is this just in that particular state? I'm pretty sure here in texas that the state does choose designs. (they're pretty benign designs, non controversial)

From the article:

Quote:

William Rittenberg, an attorney for the plaintiffs, noted the ruling does not ban specialty plates, but merely the way the state now authorizes them. He said the state could pass a law similar to other states which allow specialty plates to be issued if a certain number of people request them.

Apparantly, according to this ruling it is unconstitutional for the state to design plates with a "message." So if this rulling applies to TX than they might need to redo theirs.

07-10-2003, 10:43 AM	#1
john_v_h Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,760	LA Anti-Abortion License Plates Unconstitutional Federal Judge Blocks Anti-Abortion Plates Choose Life Louisiana

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07-10-2003, 12:06 PM	#2
Arken Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North Hollywood, CA Posts: 6,303	Faith in humanity beginning to return...

07-10-2003, 01:56 PM	#3
faust Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: baton rouge, la Posts: 539	Weeee! Those things always annoyed the crap out of me. Not that they have "Choose Life" but that I couldn't get a specialty plate that said "Pro-choice Man, I respect Women" or even better "Christians are completely insane, keep your damned god away from me and my car." Anyway, after having been in Alabama for a visit, coming back to louisiana is almost bearable.

07-10-2003, 04:33 PM	#6
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	It sounds like this decision is similar to the one which doomed the SC anti-abortion plate. In that case the state courts rulled that the legislature had done an end-round the SC constitution by authorizing the plates. Apparantely SC law states that only the DMV can issue speciality plates and only after a public petition has been filed.

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