Bill Bickel’s Crimeweek

In South Carolina Yesterday (June 19), Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a federal lawsuit (on behalf of two Christian pastors, a humanist pastor and a rabbi) to prevent the stat’s Department of Motor Vehicles from issuing “I BELIEVE” license plates (featuring a crucifix against the background of a stained glass window) on the grounds that it violated the First Amendment.

Rhetoric runs high: a Methodist pastor said, “this license plate is really divisive and creates… religious discord.” South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell said opposition to the plate “has less to do with the First Amendment and more to do with their disdain for religion generally.”

Because, you know, disdain for religion is what you’d expect from pastors and rabbis.

In principle, I’d side with the pro-plate people: after all, here are thousand of special-interest plates out there, showing support for disease research, alma maters, square dancing, identifying the driver as a Newark, New Jersey firefighter, and apparently nobody’s rights have been seriously violated.

But here’s the thing: The AUSCS has no objection to the license plate per se, only the fact that it was proposed by the Legislature. Under South Carolina law, any private group can have a specialty plate made up as long as they can either guarantee 400 prepaid orders or raise a $4,000 deposit (which will be returned once the state has sold enough plates to cover its expenses).

So are the legislative advocates for the plate stepping aside, letting the private sector (perhaps, I don’t know, maybe churches?) sponsor it, to save the state well more than $4,000 in legal bills? Apparently not, because this is a matter of principle. Or election-year political pandering, whatever.

“I support Ron Paul, the city police department doesn’t. They gave me a DWR - Driving While Republican”

This is how Cody Hauer, an 18-year-old Minnesotan, describes the four traffic citations he received (after first receiving a warning) for displaying a vision-blocking 13-inch by 40-inch “Ron Paul Revolution” decal in the rear window of his car, in violation of the state’s safety laws. He claims the citations are a violation of his First Amendment right to free speech.

Now personally, I’d like to see him pay the $550 accumulated fines, be forced to reimburse the city for all court costs, and maybe get slapped around a bit as a bonus. Seriously. Free speech, freedom of religion and racism are vitally important issues, and I don’t like seeing people breaking the law for their own purposes and then hiding behind them.

Hauer is due in court March 3.