"Choose Life" Plates Ruled Unconstitutional

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2004-09-25 12:15pm

ASHVILLE, Tenn. — A federal judge ruled Friday that the state's "Choose Life" license plate is unconstitutional based on the reasoning in similar cases in other states, but he declined to rule on whether Tennessee's entire specialty plate program is flawed.

U.S. District Judge Todd Campbell (search) wrote that the state cannot promote just one viewpoint in the abortion debate.

"The result in this case would be the same if the statute authorized a 'Pro-Choice' license plate instead of the 'Choose Life' license plate," Campbell wrote.

The American Civil Liberties Union (search) and Planned Parenthood challenged the plate in November, arguing that the state was not providing an equal opportunity for opposing viewpoints.

The state and Tennessee New Life Resources (search), an anti-abortion group closely tied to Tennessee Right to Life, had argued that those who wanted a license plate in favor of abortion rights hadn't tried hard enough to get a specialty plate passed by the General Assembly.

ACLU attorney George Barrett said the judge's opinion "vindicated the Constitution."

Sharon Curtis-Flair, spokeswoman for the state attorney general's office, declined to comment because the office had not yet seen the ruling.

Brian Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life, said his group wasn't surprised, and that the issue needs to go before the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

"I think that it's a great irony to claim to protect free speech by eliminating it," Harris said. "That's exactly what has occurred in this case."

"Choose Life" plates also have been challenged in other states. Anti-abortion groups are appealing a federal court ruling that banned South Carolina's Choose Life plate on free-speech grounds, while a federal judge last year found Louisiana's Choose Life tag unconstitutional because the state didn't offer an opposing view.

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen decided to let the "Choose Life" plate become law without signing last year's bill. He has said that the whole specialty plate program needed to be reviewed.

A portion of the extra $35 generated from sales of each "Choose Life" plate was to go to Tennessee New Life Resources.

Source

The Cleric · Post by **The Cleric** » 2004-09-25 12:58pm

Um, why didn't they just authorize a pro-Choice plate?

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-09-25 01:02pm

StormtrooperOfDeath wrote:Um, why didn't they just authorize a pro-Choice plate?

Because they are in the South

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2004-09-25 01:05pm

Are they sure the plates weren't struck down because of the early Wham! reference was just wrong.

I know it creeps me out. Have to stop this stuff early before the "Ice, Ice Baby" plates come out.

In case some people didn't know George Michael used to be in a "band" called Wham!. In their first(?) video GM wore a sweatshirt that said "Choose Life".

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2004-09-25 01:42pm

Alyrium Denryle wrote:
StormtrooperOfDeath wrote:Um, why didn't they just authorize a pro-Choice plate?
Because they are in the South

And the Governor who authorized it is a northern Democrat.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-09-25 01:49pm

Tsyroc wrote: In case some people didn't know George Michael used to be in a "band" called Wham!. In their first(?) video GM wore a sweatshirt that said "Choose Life".

Hey! I remember that! WTF? Was George a pro-lifer at one point?

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2004-09-25 01:55pm

Col. Crackpot wrote: Hey! I remember that! WTF? Was George a pro-lifer at one point?

I think he was/is in the general sense. I don't hink it had anything to do with abortion at all. I think it was more along the lines of telling people to choose to live, or something like that.

Anyway, the Pro-lifers using "Choose Life" as a counter to Pro-Choice makes me laugh and creeps me out at the same time because of that goofy Wham! video.

"jitterbug"
"jitterbug"

Marksist · Post by **Marksist** » 2004-09-25 04:08pm

I hope they rule these rediculous plates unconstitutional in Florida also.. several southern states have these plates I believe.

Post by **Kuja** » 2004-09-25 04:12pm

Wait a second...they're putting 'Choose life' right onto the license plates? Like, in addition to the state name and nickname?

Exonerate · Post by **Exonerate** » 2004-09-25 04:49pm

Nathan F wrote:
Alyrium Denryle wrote:
StormtrooperOfDeath wrote:Um, why didn't they just authorize a pro-Choice plate?
Because they are in the South
And the Governor who authorized it is a northern Democrat.

And everybody knows that all Democrats are evil liberal commies

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2004-09-25 07:26pm

Is it just me, or does the idea of a state constructing a politics based license plate line strike you as being inappropiate? I mean it's one thing to say you're an alumni from such and such, or served in the such and such war, but do we really need the 'Choose Life' and 'Ban Assault Rifles' plates? Don't people make bumber stickers for those things?

Jalinth · Post by **Jalinth** » 2004-09-25 08:17pm

Kuja wrote:Wait a second...they're putting 'Choose life' right onto the license plates? Like, in addition to the state name and nickname?

In one state, they wanted to offer "Choose Death" as being the Pro-Choice plate - needless to say, the court didn't find this particularly acceptable.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2004-09-25 09:37pm

I think the closest Arizona comes to having political plates are the Environmental Plate and the Anti Childabuse plate. The extra cost of each of those plates goes into special programs.

Otherwise the only specialty plates we have are the 3 for the state universities, a veteran's plate (through the VA),a purple heart plate, POW Plate and I think there's a special one for CMH winners.

Talon Karrde · Post by **Talon Karrde** » 2004-09-25 11:05pm

Alyrium Denryle wrote:
StormtrooperOfDeath wrote:Um, why didn't they just authorize a pro-Choice plate?
Because they are in the South

What does that have to do with anything? If you use that logic, then it could also be reasoned that they would have made the plates legal.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-09-25 11:19pm

Talon Karrde wrote:What does that have to do with anything? If you use that logic, then it could also be reasoned that they would have made the plates legal.

They DID moron, fortunately the judiciary in the south is more capable of judging the Consitutionality of the plates then the reactionary citizens and polticians.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-09-25 11:27pm

Talon Karrde wrote:
Alyrium Denryle wrote:
StormtrooperOfDeath wrote:Um, why didn't they just authorize a pro-Choice plate?
Because they are in the South
What does that have to do with anything? If you use that logic, then it could also be reasoned that they would have made the plates legal.

That is because they did... seeing as they have to authorize those plates, and didnt do so for a Pro-Choice plate.

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2004-09-25 11:46pm

Talon Karrde wrote:What does that have to do with anything? If you use that logic, then it could also be reasoned that they would have made the plates legal.

Looks to me like you fell out of the stupid tree, hit every branch on the way down and then landed in the ugly bush. They did fucking legalize the plates, then a judge said, no that shit 'aint flying and banned that specific plate. Maybe if you read before jerking your knee into your chin you shall realize things such as this in the future.

Talon Karrde · Post by **Talon Karrde** » 2004-09-25 11:54pm

Sorry for the wrong terminology.

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2004-09-26 12:30am

Talon Karrde wrote:Sorry for the wrong terminology.

Eh, I probably over reacted anyway.

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2004-09-26 02:23am

Exonerate wrote:
Nathan F wrote:
Alyrium Denryle wrote: Because they are in the South
And the Governor who authorized it is a northern Democrat.
And everybody knows that all Democrats are evil liberal commies

They aren't?

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2004-09-26 02:24am

Alyrium Denryle wrote:
Talon Karrde wrote:
Alyrium Denryle wrote: Because they are in the South
What does that have to do with anything? If you use that logic, then it could also be reasoned that they would have made the plates legal.
That is because they did... seeing as they have to authorize those plates, and didnt do so for a Pro-Choice plate.

And I reiterate, the person that signed it in, Governor Phil Bredesen, is a northern Democrat, not a southerner.

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-09-26 02:35am

Nathan F wrote:
Alyrium Denryle wrote:
Talon Karrde wrote:What does that have to do with anything? If you use that logic, then it could also be reasoned that they would have made the plates legal.
That is because they did... seeing as they have to authorize those plates, and didnt do so for a Pro-Choice plate.
And I reiterate, the person that signed it in, Governor Phil Bredesen, is a northern Democrat, not a southerner.

Damn carpetbaggers.

Marksist · Post by **Marksist** » 2004-09-26 01:47pm

This is the Florida liscense plate, and I believe they all look similar to this design.

StarshipTitanic · Post by **StarshipTitanic** » 2004-09-26 01:48pm

Awww, do the convicts pressing the plates draw the pictures themselves with their prison-issue Crayolas?

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2004-09-26 03:05pm

StarshipTitanic wrote:Awww, do the convicts pressing the plates draw the pictures themselves with their prison-issue Crayolas?

Everyone except for Carl the Crayon Croaker, who killed eight people by stuffing the contents of those colorful boxed down their throats until they suffocated. He can't have access to them.