posted on May 14, 2005 10:57:29 AM new
Ok, this article was on the local news also.
Is this, or is this not, Free Speech.
After all the individual pays for 'vanity plates'
Now this woman has to defend herself (and plates) to a court, because ONE person complained.
May 13, 2005
By Liz Rocca
TACOMA - A Tacoma woman says she feels violated by a complaint about her vanity plate. It simply reads: "John 3-16"
But someone found the Bible verse offensive and now the state is deciding whether she can keep the plate.
"The verse in the Bible says 'For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son,' " says Jane Milhans.
To her, John 3:16 is a message of love, and a great vanity plate. But now, someone has told the state Jane's plate is offensive.
"My first reaction was I was in shock," she said.
Jane says she's had the plate for 21 years without a single complaint.
"It's not profane, it's not bigotry, it's not hatred, it's not evil," she says.
But Brad Benfield with the State Department of Licensing said, "It appears from the complaint that somebody was not happy that a state issued license plate had a religious component."
A Pierce County woman made the complaint, which reads in part: "I was offended that I have to be 'prayed over' by a license plate... What happened to keeping church and state separate?"
We tracked down the woman who lodged the complaint, and she declined an on-camera interview. She says frankly, she's dismayed the state didn't keep her complaint anonymous.
"A lot of people view this as a waste tax dollars to go through this process," Milhans said.
Now Jane says she'll have to defend her plate in front of a review committee, who will decide if she can keep it.
Benfield admits just one complaint can trigger a review.
"We're always interested in finding out if one slipped through the cracks," he said.
They caught one last year. "GOT MILF" was thought to be a play on the milk commercials. It turned out to be a sexual reference to good looking moms.
The state cancelled the plate.
But Jane Milhans vows they won't cancel hers.
"I will defend to keep it based on free speech," she said.
She says she'll fight to spread her message of love.
Last year, the state handled complaints about 16 vanity plates. They canceled four of them.
We should find out next month if Jane can keep hers.
posted on May 14, 2005 11:28:05 AM new
Where does she get the separation of church and state. The state doesn't own that car, so big deal she has to see it once in a while. The car owner paid for that plate and now she owns it. I can see something offensive taken away but not this. It's to bad her neighbors don't erect a sign that says it, then she would have something to gripe about. You see that everywhere. People at football games hold up that sign, baseball games. I have even seen it on billboards. If someone had a plate atheist I would not complain, and I bet there is one somewhere in the US.
posted on May 14, 2005 12:25:34 PM new
Hey mine would say I GBPs
I imagine that could be offensive to someone who liked the Chicago Bears or the Minnesota Vikings.
edited to add d to like....and also the heart.
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[ edited by Libra63 on May 14, 2005 12:26 PM ]
[ edited by Libra63 on May 14, 2005 12:37 PM ]
posted on May 14, 2005 12:33:28 PM new
The owner of this tag calls on his God. I think it's OK.
And then there are the scarlet letter tags.
How do you feel about states issuing colored license plates to identify people with multiple drunk driving convictions or to identiy convicted sexual predators?
posted on May 14, 2005 12:41:30 PM new
Why not colored license plates for drunk drivers? I think quite a bit of the drivers in the State of Wisconsin would have them. . Look at it as extra revenue. I am sure they would have to pay more for the colored ones.
As for sexual predators I agree they need to be identified. There is a website in Wisconsin that addresses that and if you put in your zip code you will find out who they are in your area.
I have also seen a muffdiver one. I think it just shows ignorance with the vanity plates but that is just my opinion.
posted on May 14, 2005 12:42:22 PM new
How on earth did the complainer know her plates referred to the Bible? John's a pretty common name - it could mean anything. What a complete idiot.
posted on May 14, 2005 12:44:20 PM new
The big problem with that Libra, is there's no definition between a one time offender and a serial offender.
[ edited by kraftdinner on May 14, 2005 12:45 PM ]
posted on May 14, 2005 01:22:39 PM new
"I have also seen a muffdiver one. I think it just shows ignorance with the vanity plates but that is just my opinion."
Libra-if ya dont like my plate, close your eyes next time....
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Baseball season has started,but they have it all wrong.3 strikes and you're out,4 balls you walk.I can tell you right now a man with 4 balls could not possibly walk
posted on May 14, 2005 01:35:37 PM new
Kraft in wisconsin I think you need to be picked up several times before you get a ticket. At least it seems like that when you read the paper. i.e. Driver pulled over because of swerving in the road. Come to find out this was his 5th DWI. Wouldn't you think with that many his license would have been revoked.
I was making fun of the drunk driver ones but not the sexual predator one. But then I think it will get a little touchy when the wife or husband or an adult child who isn't the predator is driving the car. I know that it has been suggested but if it will ever pass I doubt it. We can't get pictures on voting cards why would I think they would identify sexual predators? As I said ours are on a website and it is easy to find out who they are and what area they live in. They don't publish the address though.
posted on May 14, 2005 02:34:45 PM newHow on earth did the complainer know her plates referred to the Bible? John's a pretty common name - it could mean anything. What a complete idiot.
Kraft, your right!
When it was on the local TV news, Mikes said, Ok I give, what does it mean?
I told him and he said 'So what, someone has way too much time on their hands'
Yeah, and for that one complaint, the owner of the plates has to defend them.
posted on May 14, 2005 02:46:40 PM new
Ok, I'm wrong. Was just reading about Vermont and Maine. They will not allow that very license plate that is up for review here in WA
You do pay each year for these vanity plates, but the state issues them, so I am guessing is a matter of seperation of Church and State.
Jane is probably going to have her plates cancelled when she goes to court.
I'm surprised it took 21 years before someone caught on the Church and State separation.
posted on May 14, 2005 02:51:58 PM new
Libra, here in Ontario, if you get pulled over for drunk driving, you lose your licence on the spot for 30 days. If you get caught again, you lose it for one year and have to have a device installed in your car that won't allow you to start the car if you've had a drink ($1200.00).
One thing that really impressed me was an experiment they did in the U.S. where all the drunk drivers had to visit the morgue as part of getting their licence back. I thought it was a great idea but don't know of they still do it.
Near, isn't it getting silly? Someone should throw rotton tomatoes at this kook.
[ edited by kraftdinner on May 14, 2005 02:58 PM ]
posted on May 14, 2005 02:58:50 PM new
Thanks nearthesea, yes this is rediculous.
People pay extra for those plates to have had it 21 years and now must defend it, you would think that the complainer would just be told that the plate is ok, have a nice day.
posted on May 14, 2005 03:06:06 PM new
Here in Ohio, between Dayton and Cincinnati is a big barn right on interstate 75. The entire side of the barn is painted with "John 3:16".
And yes, every couple of months, I see a complaint in the "letters to the editor" of the Dayton News. It's private property, so there's nothing anyone can do, but people still manage to take the time to complain.
Also here in Ohio, the state specifically says that THEY own the license plate, you only "license it," so to speak. So they do have final say over what goes on the plates.
But what next, phone numbers? Are 1-800-IMJESUS and 1-800-TLK2GOD going to be next
And something no one else has commented on was the fact that the state released the complaintant's nme publicly. I think that is just FANTASTIC. People causing these frivolous lawsuits should be publicly displayed for ridicule. Yeah, she'll have he supporters, but I doubt even many hardcore atheists would stick up for something this irrelevant.
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Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum sonatur.
posted on May 14, 2005 03:12:50 PM new
:: Hey mine would say I GBPs ::
LOL! First think I thought whe I saw that Libra was... I like the exchange rates to but I don't think I would get plates that exclaim my love for Great British Pounds. then I realized the it was your post and you probably meant Green Bay Packers.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on May 14, 2005 03:43:00 PM new
You gotta wonder how many times did the 'complainer' see this plate, how many times was she behind the car with these plates, that it set her off so much? Unless she is in her neighborhood, and happens to be behind her a lot, the chances are 1 in a million, ok less than a million
Yes! I don't know her name, they do not put it in the article, but yeah, she should be at this review too. And yes, I think its a totally frivolous thing, and the taxpayers are paying for this review.
Off topic, I see these plates all the time, and a lot of times cannot figure out what they mean. They only allow you 7 letters or numbers.
My brother has his, and its the short version of his first name, and our last name which only has 4 letters. I told him, sh*t, why don't you just put your phone number there! LOL
AND again off topic, my insurance co. Safeco, cancelled my insurance (after 10 years with them) for ONEday, they said my drivers license number was wrong. I told it to them on the phone and they INSISTED it was wrong, until I had to go there and physically SHOW them my drivers license. In this state they use part of your first, and your last name. Well my last name only has 4 letters so the DOL put an * to replace what 'normal' last names would be spelled. Its not the first time places (banks, credit card co etc) have questioned my drivers license number. (Thank God its my license number is not my Social Security number, as I have seen that it is in some states)
whew, I haven't written that much in a long time LOL!
posted on May 14, 2005 04:05:10 PM new
KD I wish they would do that here in our state. We have had so many deaths since the beginning of the year from drunk drivers. They seem to slap them on the wrist and let them go out again.
I like the idea about the thing to get your car started. I have heard talk about that.
In some cases when Juveniles are picked up for drunk driving and the person in the other car is killed the judge will make them go to the grave site on that day for a number of years. Of course they do community service and pay a fine, but no juveniles get jail time.
Do you live in Winnipeg, that beautiful town? Well I have to admit the towns I have visited in Canada all are clean and neat.
posted on May 14, 2005 04:11:57 PM new
Well, what is this device? What do you have to do blow in something and give a reading before the vehicle will start? Sounds kinda bazaar. Like a monkey blowing into a kazoo or something?
posted on May 14, 2005 04:17:42 PM new
Yes dbl it is like a breathalizer test and before the car will start it has to be below a certian level. This is only put on cars with drivers convicted of drunken driving. Not all cars. So your save.
posted on May 14, 2005 04:22:00 PM new
so db-when you're drunk some night I gotta a Breathalyzer you can blow into<snicker>
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Baseball season has started,but they have it all wrong.3 strikes and you're out,4 balls you walk.I can tell you right now a man with 4 balls could not possibly walk
posted on May 14, 2005 04:22:23 PM new
lol libra, thank god. I've already have enough of a hard time about my car starting and enough exhaling to do, without having that to allow me to ride!
posted on May 14, 2005 04:36:47 PM new
Libra - it is spelled right ...
If you mean change it to the english rather than spanish version... then everyone thinks I am in or from Arizona.
As for working too much... you are probably right but I enjoy it and everything is really starting to take off which will allow me much more time to play and explore.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on May 14, 2005 04:47:31 PM new
"Do you live in Winnipeg, that beautiful town? Well I have to admit the towns I have visited in Canada all are clean and neat."
Yea Libra, come to these towns,they are also
neat and clean..no seal pups left.Canada, nice people and a great place to live.
as you can see, a great time was had by all
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Baseball season has started,but they have it all wrong.3 strikes and you're out,4 balls you walk.I can tell you right now a man with 4 balls could not possibly walk
THAT makes a statement all on it's own.
GBPs
