Posted on 03/14/2019 8:44:20 PM PDT by be-baw
TAYLOR, MI – Flipping the bird can have consequences, but not when it’s directed at law enforcement.
That’s the opinion of a federal appeals court that ruled Wednesday that a Michigan woman's constitutional rights were violated when she was handed a speeding ticket after giving the finger to a suburban Detroit officer in 2017.
According to the Associated Press, the court ruled in a 3-0 decision that Taylor police officer Matthew Minard “should have known better” even if the driver, Debra Cruise-Gulyas, was rude.
Minard stopped Cruise-Gulyas and wrote her a ticket for a lesser violation. But when that stop was over, Cruise-Gulyas raised her middle finger, according to the Associated Press.
Minard pulled her over again in response and changed the ticket to a more serious speeding offense.
Cruise-Gulyas sued, saying her free-speech rights and her rights against unreasonable seizure were violated. The court ruling means her lawsuit will proceed.
Yeah, good luck with that.
So this means we can flip off “judges” when we don’t like their verdict? Cool!
Would that rule hold if a defendant did that to judges ? I suspect not, and that rather judges punish lack of respect to themselves without extending that respect to other officers.
As long as you say “your honor”.
“She’s Number One in the Nation!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbddWAn-hLk
One person found out the consequences for flipping off the judge...
61 is decades beyond old enough to know better.
Her husband, children and grandchildren must be so proud of her.
You hate your dog, don’t you?
I don’t have a dog. Wish I could...
very rude to do, but I think protected under first amendment. Been that way for years. The Cohen case basically decided the issue.
BTW, you’re right about the judge. He can say you can shoot the bird at others, but do it to him in his courtroom and you are going to jail.
“BTW, you’re right about the judge”
I wish I could take credit for that, but there were a couple of others who made that point. I said nothing about any judge, although I wonder whether this case, essentially supporting rudeness to officers of the peace extends to the courts. Was there a precedent set here? It seems likely we’ll find out.
Not sure how the Cohen case ties in here, but if you wouldn’t mind taking the time to elaborate, I’d appreciate it.
The Civil Society is no more.
“The Civil Society is no more.”
A lot of it has been or is in the process of being destroyed. Unfortunately, there is a new Civil Society upon us that is not particularly civil. We are losing the cultural fight. Their revolution seems to be far more pervasive than good people can even comprehend. Hopefully, they will...before it’s too late.
What would you like brought to your jail cell?
I wish you were right, to be clear.
That’ll work. /s
Nonsense...
If you’ve got a beef with the officer, take it up with internal affairs.
“If you’ve got a beef with the officer, take it up with internal affairs.”
But giving the finger requires much less work and provides instant gratification.
Yes, but unfortunately there are a lot of air-heads out there these days flipping off and cursing out everyone for no good reason.
Happiness in life isn’t dependent on being able to tell police officers F you.
We are supposed to act like adults.
Torn on this - I agree that “disrespecting” a cop with a hand signal should not be illegal or punishable, if one is stupid enough to do it for getting a warning (lesser violation than what could be issued) then that person deserves to have the warning revoked and an actual ticket issued....
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