Posted on 07/01/2014 7:29:53 AM PDT by circlecity
From a news release:
Indianapolis - The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed a lawsuit Friday on behalf of a woman who was pulled over and interrogated after her bumper sticker caught the attention of Indianapolis police officers, violating her First Amendment and Fourth Amendment rights.
On June 17, Pamela Konchinsky of Indianapolis was turning into the Merchants Garage on South Meridian Street in her silver Toyota minivan when two Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers entered the garage immediately behind her. One of the officers told Konchinsky that she was being detained because of a bumper sticker taped to the rear window of her minivan, which read: "Unmarked Police Car." The officer told Konchinsky that people would think she was impersonating a police officer and that someone might shoot her. After reviewing her license and registration, Konchinsky was ordered to get out of her car and remove the bumper sticker.
IMPD officers' subjecting Konchinsky to detention, questioning, intimidation and harassment over the message on her bumper sticker violates two constitutional amendments: the First Amendment protecting free expression and the Fourth Amendment prohibiting unreasonable and suspicionless seizures.
"We contend that the police officers who detained and interrogated our client without legal grounds to do so violated her constitutional rights, said ACLU of Indiana Staff Attorney Kelly Eskew. "The promise of our Constitution is that these lines cannot be crossed."
The lawsuit, Pamela Konchinsky v. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officers John Doe I and John Doe II, Cause No. 1:14-cv-1078,was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division, on June 27, 2014.
Sorry, but police do not have a license to infringe upon a person's constitutional rights just because the cops and 47% of the population are too stupid to get the joke. This reminds me of the premier of the old Sarah Silverman Show on Comedy Central, when she is pulled over by a cop who asks, "Do you know why I pulled you over?" She responds, "Because you graduated last in your high school class? Its the only funny thing that Silverman ever said on an otherwise forgettable show.
It scary that you had to explain that here on FR.
Because the stupid burns?
“The cop is dumber, as apparently he thinks his colleagues in unmarked units display bumper stickers which say “Unmarked Police Car” “
I don’t think I’ve ever met a cop that wasn’t so anal retentive that he could even crack a smile. Most cops look like they haven’t taken a dump in a month!
If you saw a sign on a door that said "Unauthorized Personnel Only" would you go in? How about buying a can of dehydrated water. Or would you send an email to the IT department to tell them your computer crashed?
“I wonder if Moms Taxi will soon be illegal for impersonating a taxi.”
Not too loud, the folks over at “Uber” are hunkered in a defensive crouch.....
KYPD
I don’t see where it says she shot any dogs.
Actually yes they do.
Check out any costume shop.
It’s wasting police time.
I tend to support my local police officers. Most of them are conservative, and they have much more important things to do.
Any amount of time they have to waste on a citizen trying to be funny is too much.
Really, can't you see the humor in a car marked "Unmarked"?
The revenuers can than fine you for having an unlicensed taxi.
Freedom ≠ Free Stuff☭ | ||
I, for one, welcome our new Cybernetic Overlords /. | ||
|
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.