No citations for giving the finger to police, judge says

[thinkliberty]

"Memo to cops everywhere: You can't cite someone for giving you the finger.

That's essentially what a federal judge ruled yesterday when he said a city police sergeant was wrong to cite a Regent Square man for flipping him off in traffic three years ago."

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09083/957786-85.stm

[ByronB]

Woohoo, thats awesome. I flip them off anytime I can when I know it would be difficult for them to give chase, now I don't have to worry as much.

[Jim Johnson]

"Elledge's response to Hackbart's exercise of his First Amendment right was to initiate a traffic stop and issue a citation for disorderly conduct," the judge wrote. "Clearly, Elledge's conduct was an adverse action in response to Hackbart flipping him off."

The case will now proceed to trial in U.S. District Court on the underlying claim that the city doesn't adequately train its officers to know when they're violating someone's rights.

This seems to be a good basis upon which cities can be sued when ever cops slap a disorderly conduct charge on someone.

[Raineyrocks]

Woohoo, thats awesome. I flip them off anytime I can when I know it would be difficult for them to give chase, now I don't have to worry as much.

Yahoo!  I guess we're winning the war against oppression!