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Friday, May 01, 2009

Honk if you "Choose Life" !

Should states be allowed to bar certain politically charged statements on license plates?

Who owns license plates? (keep in mind in NYS you must return them)

Is this a 1st Amendment issue?

How have the lower courts ruled?

Is Adam Liptak showing his bias in this article?

What further questions do you have for the author?



19 comments:

M. Frank said...

I always am for the idea of separating Church from State. This is one idea that our founding fathers stressed in the Constitution that has been contradicted more times than not since the Revolutionary War. From gay marriage to abortion, there are some issues people just do not agree on, soley based on their religious beliefs.
The battles for gay rights and abortions will rage on forever, or at least as long as Rush Limbaugh is on the radio. Though this I really don't get, and it is clearly a church vs state issue. I don't see why anyone would want a license plate that says choose life, or for that matter anyone who would be convinced by one.
I understand a NASCAR license plate, or maybe an alumni one. Maybe a supporter of an organization like the ASPCA or NAACP. But I do not think that political issues and opinions should be broadcasted on license plates, which are issued and distributed by the state government and DMV. If people want to have bumper stickers, by all means express yourself, but the state should not offer favorable opinionated license plates, especially if the money they make goes toward private investing groups.

Gitu K. said...

People are allowed to have the freedom to put a certain name on there licenced plate because its there freedon of speech and everyone is entitled to that. If they have a certain view of politics why not let the people around them know what are there views. This is defintely a 1st Amendement issue and should be dealt with, because the coming generation ive noticed that they are having there own style and ive seen many peoples licesne pltes have a certain name. The lower courts havent made the licensed problem cleared yet. Adam Liptak did show his bias and that is also connected to the 1st amendement.

r. kaur said...

i dont find anything wrong with this. it's up to the owner if they want to buy the plate by paying a little extra money. it's another form of freedom of speech they people can try to express what they feel about abortion with banners hanging over their heads or a bright yellow car plate. either way its only going to make a difference to people who pay mind to it. i dont find whats wrong about this, because people usually customize their plates with sayings and etc so a little bit of the funky colors behind your car wouldn't matter . even though in the NYS we have to give our plates back it doesn't matter they should still give it to people who want them even if its for limited time, cause hey look on the bright side extra money for these plates means helping the economy( since whatever we discuss about in class tends to fall back on the economical crisis i though this article shouldn't feel left out)

N. Budhu said...

I'm against putting certain statements on your license plate. License plates are owned by the state. Such statements shouldn't be on something that is technically owned by the government. Adam Liptak is biased, as every writer is. It's not a first amendment issue because it's government property. If you'd like to express your opinion on something that you own, that's fine.

Sana A said...

There is no problem with what people put on their license plate. When people get their favorite team on their plate there is no issue. A license plate can have your name on it or basically anything that you feel represents you. As long as it is not sexual or harrassing then I think it's fine. Having to approve what someone puts on their license plate is a restriction on their freedom of speech.

If they want their side on a political issue from the current date to be on their car forever, then that's their choice isn't it?

Why is there no issue with bumper stickers?

a.potter said...

I think that states should put whatever they want on their license plate. Its not their fault how others react to what they put on their plates. Its not my fault if someone has a heart attack because they saw something that scared them to death that was on my wall.

J.Canales said...

I believe people do have a right to put what they want on their license plates,but I also think they should be monitored. I don't think people should put things on their license plates that are going to start some sort of controversy. I agree with Matt F. that people putting on the their license plate "Choose Life" is religious, and that again this is something that should be separated from church and state. This in my opinion isn't really a first amendment issue because people do have a right to say what they want, but i dont think a license plate is the appropriate way to say it

k.weston said...

I agree with gitu, that people should be able to put what ever they want on their license plate. Its called freedom of speech. The only thing is, is that people have to be concious about what they have on it.

And good question Sana. Why is their not a issue with bumper stickers when they can be worst then license plates?

t alexander said...

I stronly believe people have the right to put whatever they want on their license plate. I don't think what other people will care about on someone else plates. It's our freedom that what we should do or choose certain names on the license plate.

a.pervaiz said...

Putting a word or an idealogical term behind a car isn't a problem to me. People have the freedom to put what they want in their license plate, but. what matters is that the state or DMV approves their license plates and let it go. I agree to what Sanna A had said that "Why aren't their any issues with bumper stickers?" There should be a limit towards what people put on their license plates.


a.pervaiz

A. Rao said...

There's nothing wrong with this. Everyone registering a car gets a standard license plate from the state. It is then their choice to invest in a new look for their bumper or to just leave it the way it is.
The DMV doesn't consider what the plate looks like on a vanity plate. Only the order of the numbers and letters. If they consider something to be inappropriate, let them deny. However, it is not a first amendment issue, speech or religion.

K. Singh said...

Everyone should have the right to have what ever they want on their license plates. You are paying extra money for it anyways, but I also believe that some things should be watched. I wouldn't want people having disparaging remarks about people's cultures. Having different license plates is another way of expressing yourself and i believe that you shouldn't take that away as long as its not disparaging.

L. molina said...

I feel that there is no problem with people wanting to get license plates that are going to express what they feel. It's part of freedom of speech because everyone is allowed to do and say what they want. It might cause people to disagree with their point of view but thats their problem because nobody should be stopped from expressing what they feel. Also they aren't getting this for free so why make this such a big deal. They are going to pay extra money, so giving the people what they want shouldn't bring any issues even though the plates are going to end up being returned.

Melissa B. said...

I really dont think that statments on license plates should be a problem unless they say something profound.If people can say what ever they want they should be able to put things that are apropiate on there licence plate. I dont think it should be a big deal if some one puts religious things on there licence plate,if people can put bumper stickers on their car that say certain things then people should be able to put religious statements on their licence plates.

U. Cheema said...

If states offer license plates with politically or religiously charged statments and states mottos that conflict with religious beliefs, it shouldn't be offered.

Most license plates issued from the states don't have such politically or religiously charged states on there license plates.

States such as Alabama,Indiana and Florida give you options if you want statements as "God Bless America" and "In God We Trust".

New Hampshire is the only state which has an official license plate stating a politically or religiously charged statement "Live Free or Die"

A state legislature should not pass a mandate saying everyone living in the state of New Hampshire must have that statement appearing on their license plates.

We all know state license plates put the state's motto or state's nickname, as their statement.

Anonymous said...

People should be allowed to have what ever they want on their license plates. If they want to pay the extra money to get a customized plate than that is their business. As long as they are not cursing it should be okay for them to have the freedom to have what ever they want printed on it.

-CMartinez

Matthew B. said...

No the government should not be able to control what people put on their own license plate. Yes taking back license plates from people is kind of wrong because people should be able to keep what's their property. Also the right to put whatever you want on your license plate should remain that way. If they take away that from the people it's actually to me abusing the first amendment. People should have the right to express however and what they feel.Writing something on your license is not really hurting another person, but expressing your voice. As long as what you put on your license plate is not offending then it should stay that way.

Jray Vicencioz said...

Everyone seems to bring up a valid point. I feel as if America is a Free State therefore we should live it the way we want it but with limitations. Licenses plates should have what they want as long as they aren't inappropriate or show discrimination towards certain people.

C.Jones III said...

Like i always say the government shouldn't tell everyone you have the freedom of speech, because when you tell that to a country of millions. That right gets a little out had. i agree with M.Frank their shouldn't be any display of political issues. Only because their are a lot of people in the USA that that political issues very serious.