NH man fights denial of COPSLIE vanity plate Must Read?Yes 4 Email Story Print LYNNE TUOHY, AP, 50 minutes ago CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire man told the states highest court Thursday that denying him a vanity license plate that reads COPSLIE violates his political free speech rights. David Montenegro, of Farmington, said he wanted the plate because he feels it highlights government corruption. Lawyers for the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union, who joined the case, say the current DMV regulation is unconstitutionally vague and gives too much discretion in a person behind a counter. The policy prohibits vanity plates that a reasonable person would find offensive to good taste. So if a person at DMV agrees with the sentiment, he gets the plate? Chief Justice Linda Dalianis asked during a spirited half-hour of arguments. What is good taste? Justice Carol Ann Conboy asked. That seems to be the nub of the argument. Senior Assistant Attorney General Richard Head argued that state workers were right to deny Montenegro the plate in 2010, because the phrase disparages an entire class of people — police officers. I dont deny you might get two different decisions from two different people, Head said in response to a question about whether a plate reading COPS R GR8 would be approved. Anthony Galdieri, an attorney representing the civil liberties union, argued that an accusation is nothing more than viewpoint. Justice Gary Hicks questioned how the court could restrict someones ability to have an opinion. Head replied that Montenegros plate preference was an allegation, not an opinion. Gilles Bissonnette, another NHCLU attorney, said COPSLIE is political speech that is being regulated and suppressed by the government. Theres no way to objectively enforce this regulation, Bissonnette said. After court, Montenegro — who last year legally changed his name to human — said he thought police officers who might pull him over and have to type COPSLIE into their computers would amount to the perfect situational irony. He said he was confident the court would invalidate the DMV provision, despite opening his argument by telling the justices that the only reason the case had reached their level was because of a corrupt judiciary. He also acknowledged that he had been arrested twice, but would not say what the charges were. The justices did not indicate when they would rule. Associated Press Must Read?Yes 4 Email Story Print Most Popular News Most Recommended Knoxs knife DNA casts doubt on murder weapon 159 Recommendations 2 killed, 7 hurt in Detroit barbershop shooting 87 Recommendations Dems, GOP, tea party dig in after NJ, VA elections 72 Recommendations Homeless man found in Pa. hotel presidential suite 71 Recommendations Ad Info - Ad Feedback Latest News Videos D.C. Police Analyze Sound as Crime-fighting Tactic ABCNews D.C. Police Analyze Sound as Crime-fighting Tactic Raw: Time-lapse of Soyuz Rocket Before Launch AP Raw: Time-lapse of Soyuz Rocket Before Launch Former mistress back on stand in MacNeill murder trial FoxNews Former mistress back on stand in MacNeill murder trial First Read Minute: Christie, king of the Hill? NBCNews First Read Minute: Christie, king of the Hill? More News Videos Ad Info - Ad Feedback Top News Twitter surges in opening trade on NYSE FDA to ban artery-clogging trans fats 10 Things to See: A week of top AP photos Is that trans fat? Different types of fats More Top Headlines
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 20:42:19 +0000
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