WAR

Eranys said:
That's very surprising that it was revoked in CA. My opinion on whether or not that is fair would hinge on how that has been applied to other cases. It would seem reasonable to restrict a license plate that causes understandable outrage. Preventing road rage is in the public interest. Freedom of speech does not necessarily extend to things that are privileges and not actual rights. Driving is a privilege.
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"Abd al-Nabi denies that she intended to threaten or encourage violence and is asking a federal court to order the plate's return and affirm that the slogan is protected under free speech."

What do you think about the phrase itself?
 
a-mart said:
"Abd al-Nabi denies that she intended to threaten or encourage violence and is asking a federal court to order the plate's return and affirm that the slogan is protected under free speech."

What do you think about the phrase itself?
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The phrase itself is free speech, yes.
 
a-mart said:
Freedom of speech in general
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Then yes, as Crete said, it is protected speech if simply stated in public.

In the US, you have the right to say pretty much anything in public that isn't a direct call to violence or intended to cause harm. That does not apply, however, in private places, where property owners can restrict whatever speech they want. I approve of this system.
 
a-mart said:
"Abd al-Nabi denies that she intended to threaten or encourage violence and is asking a federal court to order the plate's return and affirm that the slogan is protected under free speech."

What do you think about the phrase itself?
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In the US, speech is only illegal if it directly leads to violence. Civil lawsuits are one thing (a coworker calling another coworker a slur leading to the company getting sued is not a free speech issue but something different). A man can call someone else the N Word on itself and get all the personal life consequences outside of criminal prosecution (with very rare exception for some localities that are basically in violation of the US Constitution in prosecuting such language), but scream 'SNIPER!' or "I HAVE A BOMB!" in an airport will get the book thrown at you for attempting to incite a riot or stampede. Shouting the N Word and throwing firecrackers at the West Indies parade would get someone charged with inciting a riot.

Having a license plate that says 'GAZA' or the Arabic name for Jerusalem is different than using a phrase that is a call for violence. 'River to the sea' on a license plate is no different to having a license plate that says 'SKLSHOTR'. Shouting it in during a gathering with other Arabs is probably protected speech. Shouting it in a synagogue while waving a fake plastic sword around will get you charged. License plates are on the more restrictive side to avoid road rage and traffic confrontations.
 
And to add, 'bad speech' in the US is used as evidence for prosecution for other charges rather than something to be charged on itself. You have been charged with trying to cause a riot while people flee from you. How so? You stripped naked and started screaming the N Word on the NYC subway (I saw a youtube video of that). The stripping naked part will get you institutionalized, but screaming slurs might give prosecution ammo to put you in jail instead.
 
Tosh said:
How about go fuck yourself? While you enjoy comfort and security while belittling stories of mine that are 100% real, people are suffering. My friend is real and I guess what I've learned is don't share hard truths with this shitty site and the majority of its inhabitants. I wish I could tell you all of her information, but it's not mine to give, and I don't care what any of you think. I'll tell you she is the most beautiful woman I've ever known, she's now in her early twenties, in her second year of University to become a pharmacist near where I'm currently living, just outside D.C. She works, goes to school, and takes care of her brother, who has a rapidly declining case of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. That's how we met. On a site trying to create a drug to combat what killed two of the cousins who lived in our house, one of my brothers, and is slowly dragging her 21 year old brother toward a painful death.
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All I know is...I'm not letting any motherfucker off the hook for hanging my a dog, "Spot," who I raised and loved, simply to avoid confrontation.
 
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I live in CA and was going to get a customized plate years ago. There's a process and there are rules, they even have rules about using the number 69. You have to explain what your requested plate means, and they have the right to shoot it down.

Vulgar or inflammatory plates will be denied. And if they get through they can recall them.

Another social outrage nothing burger

www.dmv.ca.gov

21.185 Personalized License Plate Applications - California DMV

Original License Plate Application—the following must be submitted online at dmv.ca.gov: Before a license plate reservation can be processed, the applicant must complete a Special Interest License Plate Application (REG 17) form. The REG 17 must: POW and Firefighter License Plate Requests—To...
www.dmv.ca.gov www.dmv.ca.gov
 
ABB said:
I live in CA and was going to get a customized plate years ago. There's a process and there are rules, they even have rules about using the number 69. You have to explain what your requested plate means, and they have the right to shoot it down.

Vulgar or inflammatory plates will be denied. And if they get through they can recall them.

Another social outrage nothing burger

www.dmv.ca.gov

21.185 Personalized License Plate Applications - California DMV

Original License Plate Application—the following must be submitted online at dmv.ca.gov: Before a license plate reservation can be processed, the applicant must complete a Special Interest License Plate Application (REG 17) form. The REG 17 must: POW and Firefighter License Plate Requests—To...
www.dmv.ca.gov www.dmv.ca.gov
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I've only tried once, back when my state still required front-bumper license plates. I requested "TI 3VOM" which when people saw me in the rear-view mirror would read "MOVE IT." It got denied, no idea why. Maybe someone already had it?
 
a-mart said:
Question, what do you think about the boundaries of freedom of speech in the following case?

California resident sues: DMV revoked license plate with 'from the river to the sea' slogan

A California resident is suing the state's Department of Motor Vehicles after her license plate reading 'RVRTSEA,' an abbreviation of the pro-Palestinian slogan 'from the river to the sea,' was revoked. Yasmin Abd al-Nabi, who received the personalized plate in May 2024, argues that its confiscation violates her right to free speech enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. The DMV ordered the plate returned following complaints from Jewish drivers who reported feeling fear and personally threatened. An administrative judge upheld the decision, ruling that the inscription could be interpreted as a call for genocide or incitement to violence. Abd al-Nabi denies that she intended to threaten or encourage violence and is asking a federal court to order the plate's return and affirm that the slogan is protected under free speech.
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While driving IS a privilege with laws on who and who can't drive left to state lawmakers. The issue of personalized plates being revoked gets a lot more (free speechie).
With a shit load of those cases won by the plaintiffs.
 
motives said:
While driving IS a privilege with laws on who and who can't drive left to state lawmakers. The issue of personalized plates being revoked gets a lot more (free speechie).
With a shit load of those cases won by the plaintiffs.
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Can I drive around with "FLTNGZA"?

And how long before the vehicle gets burned down?
 
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