Posted on 01/28/2005 6:47:11 AM PST by little jeremiah
AgapePress) - A Vermont man has sued that state's Department of Motor Vehicles after his application to have a personalized license plate with a Christian message was rejected.
Last April, Shawn Byrne submitted an application for a personalized plate inscribed with "JOHN316." In May, he received a letter from the DMV informing him that the inscription was "deemed to be a combination that refers to deity and has been denied based on that reason." On appeal, an administrative law judge upheld the DMV's position because the statute governing the license plate program prohibits combinations that refer to "deity," among other things.
Byrne has now sued the state over the matter. He is represented by attorney Anthony Duprey of Middlebury, who is affiliated with the Alliance Defense Fund. Duprey contends the state's position is clearly unconstitutional.
"The state of Vermont has created a forum whereby they allow people to make expression within this license plate forum," the attorney says. "But they said if you happen to have a religious perspective, a Christian perspective, then you need not apply. They're discriminating as to what sort of speech people can put on the license plate -- and I think that's very troubling."
According to Duprey, DMV officials have approved other plates that use names and numbers referring to religion. But those officials, he says, have "selectively censored" his client's expression. "When officials suppress speech because they don't like the message of the plate or the viewpoint it expresses, that's illegal discrimination," he says.
The attorney points out another aspect that he sees as discriminatory. "What's important in my client's life is his relationship with Jesus Christ," he explains. "[But] the state said 'Well, we don't want to hear that -- , we don't want you to express that.' But if you've got somebody [for whom] bowling is their big thing in life and that's what they live for, then you're free to put it on the vehicle."
Duprey says he intends to make sure the DMV "will no longer be able to discriminate against anyone based upon their religious views."
Well, I agree. I think there are some things that shouldn't be allowed on plates, but this is clearly not offensive.
Moral Absolutes Ping.
Can't have any mention of God, in any way, shape, or form, anywhere except - you guessed it - in our closets.
Does anyone else hear the theme music of "The Twilight Zone"?
So many people read stuff like this and think something like this: "Well, that's in Vermont; we know they're loony there." "Well, I wouldn't put a Bible verse number on my license plate so that doesn't affect me." "Guy's probably a religious fanatic anyway." "Things can't get any worse."
Etc Etc. Problem is, things are getting worse minute by minute. What are each of us going to do about it?
Let me know if anyone wants on/off this pinglist.
In PA, there is someone who has "JESUS" for his tag -
With the old plates - it said right above it -
You have a friend in
JESUS
Good luck to him. In the land of Jeffords and Levy, now a colony of the rotten big apple like south Florida, insanity will always prevail.
I'll bet if some Muhammed wanted plates that read "JIHAD" it would be just fine.
is that really a legit fl license plate???
I bet there are, and I also bet that the State Government of Vermont isn't concerned about them in the least.
those werent real license plates. everyone had one those back in the day. in pa, you dont need a license plate on the front of your car so everyone started loading theres up with the Jesus plate.
mee, too PING
That's just silly. As far as I'm concerned you ought to be able to put anything that's not obscene on your plate, including religious messages.
In Texas and New Mexico that wouldn't be unusual...since Jesus is also a male Mexican name, pronounced slightly different of course.
I hope this guy pushes this to the limit....this kind of stuff has gotten way out of control. It seems we've lost all sense of reason and tolerance.
My texan brother-in-law lives in New Mexico has a personalized New Mexico plate that says GBTEXAS.
Yeah. I PA you can buy plates for the front of your car-- since we do not have front plates here, only back plates issued by the state.
Lots of people have the "You have a friend in JESUS" tage. Nobody's been arrested yet but this state is redder than Philly would lead you to believe!
It seems we've lost all sense of reason and tolerance.
It is amazing to me how much intolerece abounds in the name of tolerence
it's just "A55 RGY" what could possibly be wrong?
:)
Yes:
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.