In the 3-0 decision Wednesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals says a driver who showed a police officer her middle finger is protected by the First Amendment.
https://abc7news.com/society/middle-finger-protected-by-the-constitution-court-rules/5201190/
Judge Jeffrey Sutton wrote for the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals: "Fits of rudeness or lack of gratitude may violate the Golden Rule, but that doesn't make them illegal or for that matter punishable."
"Cruise-Gulyas did not break any law that would justify the second stop and at most was exercising her free speech rights," the court wrote.
It is well-settled that what Cruise-Gulyas did is protected by the Constitution, the court said. "Any reasonable officer would know that a citizen who raises her middle finger engages in speech protected by the First Amendment," Sutton wrote.
https://www.npr.org/2019/03/15/703665710/police-officer-cant-pull-over-driver-for-giving-him-the-finger-court-rules
https://abc7news.com/society/middle-finger-protected-by-the-constitution-court-rules/5201190/
Judge Jeffrey Sutton wrote for the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals: "Fits of rudeness or lack of gratitude may violate the Golden Rule, but that doesn't make them illegal or for that matter punishable."
"Cruise-Gulyas did not break any law that would justify the second stop and at most was exercising her free speech rights," the court wrote.
It is well-settled that what Cruise-Gulyas did is protected by the Constitution, the court said. "Any reasonable officer would know that a citizen who raises her middle finger engages in speech protected by the First Amendment," Sutton wrote.
https://www.npr.org/2019/03/15/703665710/police-officer-cant-pull-over-driver-for-giving-him-the-finger-court-rules
On the other hand; protected speech or not, would you flip a hell's Angel the bird?
ReplyDeleteWhy not? They can't very well run you off the road, as they are only on bikes. Bikes lose to cars every single time
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