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Judge Says Flashing Headlights To Warn Drivers Of Hidden Cops MIGHT Be Protected Speech

posted by janrinok on Tuesday May 07 2019, @09:24PM   Printer-friendly
from the coming-down-firmly-on-the-fence dept.

MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for Fnord666

Law enforcement officers tend to frown on citizens interfering with their revenue generation. This has led to a number of First Amendment lawsuits from people arrested for warning others about [check notes] the existence of police officers in the vicinity.

One citizen was told as much when he was arrested for holding up a sign reading "Cops Ahead." One cop kept on script, referring to the man's actions as "interfering with an investigation." It wasn't an investigation. It was a distracted driving sting. The cop actually hauling him to the station was more to the point, telling the man he was arresting him for "interfering with our livelihood." First Amendment violation or felony interference with a business model? Why not both?

A lawsuit was filed in 2018 seeking a declaration that honking a car's horn is protected expression. And, all the way back in 2011, a class action lawsuit was filed over citations and arrests for flashing headlights to warn drivers of unseen officers.

A federal judge has decided -- albeit not very firmly -- that at least one of these actions is protected by the First Amendment. Wisconsin Magistrate Judge Stephen Crocker says flashing your headlights to warn drivers of speed traps is expressive speech -- something cops would be better off not trying to punish. (via Volokh Conspiracy)

Source: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190502/05382642129/federal-judge-says-flashing-headlights-to-warn-drivers-hidden-cops-might-be-protected-speech.shtml

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 08 2019, @03:06PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 08 2019, @03:06PM (#840797)

    That, by itself, could be considered reasonable. People were scared, and they wanted to protect the children. That happens.

    It's not reasonable at all, because it shows they turn their brains off when it comes to anything involving children. That mentality led directly to the abuses done by the authority figures, because they could do so without consequence. So, once again, a severe lack of critical thinking skills is the problem. Not to mention, a willingness to sacrifice liberties in the name of safety, which thoroughly debunks the notion that we live in 'the land of the free and the home of the brave'.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 08 2019, @05:42PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 08 2019, @05:42PM (#840902)

    yeah, assuming we have a state at all, there needs to be severe penalties for pigs and bureaucrats who knowingly misuse their power. stiff penalties for people who knowingly file false reports. too much of this shit just gets ignored or people get a slap on the wrist while people's lives get ruined.