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donnay
05-07-2014, 06:39 PM
New Hampshire court upholds COPSLIE vanity plate


Associated Press
By LYNNE TUOHY 7 hours ago


CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — If a New Hampshire man thinks cops lie, he's free to say so on his license plate, the state's highest court ruled Wednesday.

In a unanimous decision, the state Supreme Court agreed with the arguments of David Montenegro, who wanted the vanity plate reading "COPSLIE" to protest what he calls government corruption.

State law prohibits vanity plates that "a reasonable person would find offensive to good taste." But the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union argued that the law is unconstitutionally vague and gives too much discretion to a person behind a Department of Motor Vehicles counter.

New Hampshire had argued that state workers were right to deny the plate, because the phrase disparages an entire class of people — police officers.

The justices said that state law does not define the phrase "offensive to good taste."

"The restriction grants DMV officials the power to deny a proposed vanity registration plate because it offends particular officials' subjective idea of what is 'good taste,'" the court wrote. The decision states the law is unconstitutionally vague and violates free speech rights.

The case was sent back to Strafford County Superior Court for further proceedings.

Attorney Anthony Galdieri, who argued the case on behalf of Montenegro and the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union, said he was not surprised by the ruling. "This regulation was an impermissible way to regulate speech under the First Amendment," Galdieri said.

Montenegro did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

At spirited arguments in November, the high court panel grilled state officials.

"So if a person at DMV agrees with the sentiment, he gets the plate?" Chief Justice Linda Dalianis asked.
State Denies Woman`s `8THIEST` License Plate Reque … Play Video
State Denies Woman`s `8THIEST` License Plate Reque …

"What is good taste?" added Justice Carol Ann Conboy, who wrote Wednesday's ruling. "That seems to be the nub of the argument."

Continued... (http://news.yahoo.com/hampshire-court-upholds-copslie-vanity-plate-131707295.html)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obHw2-vgaVA

orenbus
05-07-2014, 09:51 PM
Thanks for posting this, made me laugh. :D

Root
05-07-2014, 10:00 PM
Awesomeness. I just hope he doesn't get beat or worse from the pigs as a result.

Occam's Banana
05-08-2014, 03:34 AM
Awesomeness. I just hope he doesn't get beat or worse from the pigs as a result.

Yeah. Sounds like taping a "KICK ME" sign to your own back ...

Henry Rogue
05-08-2014, 05:39 AM
the phrase disparages an entire class of people — police officers.
It's difficult to view cops as individuals when they promote group think at every opportunity. Especially when you take into account laws that provide special privileges and protections to a select class of people.

otherone
05-08-2014, 06:25 AM
It's difficult to view cops as individuals when they promote group think at every opportunity. Especially when you take into account laws that provide special privileges and protections to a select class of people.

Good point. I didn't realize occupations were classes.

PaulConventionWV
05-08-2014, 06:45 AM
Finally, some good news. I honestly didn't even know that it was possible to get a law overturned for unconstitutional vagueness anymore.

Henry Rogue
05-08-2014, 07:19 AM
COPSKILL, does 8 letters go beyond the plate allowance?

RJB
05-08-2014, 07:31 AM
Good point. I didn't realize occupations were classes.
The last cop who gave me a citation had no class at all.

donnay
05-08-2014, 09:29 AM
The last cop who gave me a citation had no class at all.

I can definitely relate. I agree with Human on this...they do LIE.

jkr
05-08-2014, 09:37 AM
its not that they lie, the problem is THEY ARE PERMITTED TO LIE LEGALLY AS PART OF THEIR JOB!

ZENemy
05-08-2014, 10:18 AM
I have some friends that are Cops, one of them said they all call going on the stand "testiLIE" because they all lie to make sure the stories fit what they made up. Its very hard for me to call these people friends anymore.

Philhelm
05-08-2014, 10:41 AM
I have some friends that are Cops, one of them said they all call going on the stand "testiLIE" because they all lie to make sure the stories fit what they made up. Its very hard for me to call these people friends anymore.

I've cast aside people for lesser offenses. They should be reported for their admissions of perjury - see something, say something.

--------------------------------------------------

We need some ideas for plates:

1. COPSUCK
2. DIEPIGS
3. COPKILA
4. FUCOPS
5. FPOLICE

Keith and stuff
05-09-2014, 08:45 AM
Awesomeness. I just hope he doesn't get beat or worse from the pigs as a result.

He had been abused by the police more than once. Thus he wanted the license plate.

Origanalist
05-09-2014, 08:59 AM
Matt Collins should do a couple ride along's with him.

human
05-15-2014, 08:40 PM
I have some friends that are Cops, one of them said they all call going on the stand "testiLIE" because they all lie to make sure the stories fit what they made up.

Awh. I used that word, "testilied", in some of my motions. I thought I made it up. :(

kcchiefs6465
05-15-2014, 08:43 PM
Awh. I used that word, "testilied", in some of my motions. I thought I made it up. :(


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoWTd8TlaeU

Bankrupt them.

ETA:

In case my post is unclear being you haven't posted here too much, I know for certain that you will be unduly harassed, ticketed, imprisoned, etc. for such a challenging license plate. Much as you already have been unduly harassed, ticketed, etc.

Record it all. You apparently know your rights, Constitutional obligations, the precedents the SCOTUS has created, etc. I don't think I'm much in a place to tell you how to do things but I hope you are prepared for the unjust crooks who will direct their attention towards you.

Keep up the good work and make them fight for every last penny.

As everyone should do.

human
05-15-2014, 08:52 PM
Matt Collins should do a couple ride along's with him.

LOL. That's a clever idea.

FYI, the New Hampshire Supreme Court's official opinion can be found here (http://www.courts.state.nh.us/supreme/opinions/2014/2014028montenegro.pdf).

Some news articles about the decision ran in the Concord Monitor (http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/11874984-95/nh-supreme-court-backs-copslie-vanity-plate-overturns-lower-court-decision), the Union Leader (http://www.unionleader.com/article/20140507/NEWS/140509309), and the Portsmouth Herald (http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20140508-NEWS-405080399).

It also appeared on WBZ (http://boston.cbslocal.com/2014/05/07/nh-supreme-court-to-rule-on-copslie-license-plate/), and on WMUR on 2014-05-07 (http://www.wmur.com/news/court-expected-to-rule-in-copslie-vanity-plate-case/25850332) and 2014-05-08 (http://www.wmur.com/news/man-at-center-of-license-plate-case-says-hes-advocate-for-rights/25883748).

human
06-05-2014, 12:02 PM
For those who may be interested, a status conference for this case has been scheduled for 9:00-9:15 on 2014-07-22 in Strafford Superior Court.

jbauer
06-05-2014, 01:45 PM
COPSKILL, does 8 letters go beyond the plate allowance?

5OKILLK9 ???