ACLU lost, Indiana keeps "In God We Trust" license plates

Melensdad · Nov 18, 2008

Proof that freedom of religion is not necessarily freedom from religion and that, in some ways, "GOD" is still acceptable in state government.

Article published Nov 18, 2008
Court upholds 'God' plates in Indiana
ACLU not yet sure whether to appeal.

http://www.southbendtribune.com/app...gory=News01&ArtNo=811180327&Template=printart

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld the constitutionality of the state's "In God We Trust" license plate Monday, rejecting a claim that people who buy the plates should have to pay a $15 administrative fee charged for other specialty plates.

In its 12-page ruling, the appeals court found that state lawmakers acted correctly in creating a license plate classification system that exempts people who buy the "In God We Trust" plate from paying the administrative fee.

The court found that the General Assembly's license plate system "is reasonably related to the inherent characteristics of the license plates."

In a statement on the ruling, Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter said that "In God We Trust" -- the motto found on U.S. currency -- "has found deep support among our fellow citizens."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana had challenged the "God" plate fees on behalf of Mark E. Studler, an Allen County resident who has an Environmental Trust plate for which he had to pay extra fees.Ken Falk, the legal director of the ACLU of Indiana, said the group is not yet sure whether it will appeal the appellate ruling.

The ACLU's lawsuit claimed the Bureau of Motor Vehicles gave preferential treatment to motorists wanting the "God" plate that also features the U.S. flag because they don't have to pay the $15 fee the BMV collects on sales of most other Indiana specialty plates.

pirate_girl · Nov 18, 2008

Melensdad · Nov 18, 2008

pirate_girl said:

Yup that is what I thought when I saw this story.

I'm sure the ACLU does some good, but generally I think they simply cause a lot of trouble for the average person. Typically if I see the ACLU involved in a case I usually am on the opposite side of their position. There are a few cases where I was actually happy to see them involved. But those seem to be very rare.

thcri · Nov 18, 2008

I am hoping that Obama see the ACLU as one of them programs that is not working and gets rid of them. Waste of tax payer dollars.

waybomb · Nov 18, 2008

^^^^ you are gonna hope for a long time. Hope for hitting the Lotto. You have a better chance.

RedRocker · Nov 19, 2008

thcri said:
I am hoping that Obama see the ACLU as one of them programs that is not working and gets rid of them. Waste of tax payer dollars.

Isn't the ACLU a private enterprise? The Odds of Barry going against the ACLU are right up there with him going against ACORN, won't happen.

Melensdad · Nov 19, 2008

RedRocker said:
Isn't the ACLU a private enterprise?

Yup, funded largely by donations from what I can tell.

By the way, here in Indiana we have our choice of many different designs of license plates. Nobody is forced to have the "In God We Trust" license plate. In fact you actually have to ask for it, it is not just given to you.

Below is the license plate that raised such a stink, and yes I have one like it on my car, and my wife has a different one on her car. Its a matter of personal choice what plate you put on your car. So really the ACLU was trying to limit choice. Seems like an odd position for a civil rights group.

RedRocker · Nov 19, 2008

Any group that supports the Man/Boy Love association should be shot anyway.

Durwood RIP · Nov 19, 2008

RedRocker said:
Any group that supports the Man/Boy Love association should be shot anyway.

Yep

AndyM · Nov 20, 2008

Here's what I've got on my car. It has withstood court challenges too!

Melensdad · Nov 20, 2008

AndyM said:
Here's what I've got on my car. It has withstood court challenges too!

So why would the ACLU object to that plate? Or was it Planned Parenthood that filed the lawsuit? And do you know what grounds they used when they filed the suit? Here in Indiana it was deemed unfair because people who chose the "God" plate did NOT have to pay extra money for the plate. Apparently the ACLU would not have had legal standing if the state required an extra $15 fee, as our state offers dozens of different plates, but most of them come at the expense of an extra administrative fee. The "God" plate does not, so basically the ACLU stated that it was state supported church.

AndyM · Nov 20, 2008

B_Skurka said:
So why would the ACLU object to that plate?

http://www.lifenews.com/state1008.html

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Abortion advocates in Ohio filed a lawsuit seeking to stop sales of the state's Choose Life license plate one month before they will be available to motorists. The American Civil Liberties Union claims the plates discriminate against abortion advocates because no pro-abortion version is offered.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The suit, filed in federal court in Cleveland, asserts the plates amount to "viewpoint discrimination" because they are one-sided.[/FONT]

They seem to think every time a viewpoint is presented, the opposing viewpoint must also be presented. Very "Fariness Doctrine-ish", if you will.

Melensdad · Nov 20, 2008

AndyM said:
http://www.lifenews.com/state1008.html

They seem to think every time a viewpoint is presented, the opposing viewpoint must also be presented. Very "Fariness Doctrine-ish", if you will.

Seems to me you could design a plate that shows an aborted baby, with the words Pro-Choice, and then donates any money to support young mother shelters. It would offer the pro-abortion crowd a plate, but somehow I doubt many of them would choose to put on on their car :glare:

AndyM · Nov 20, 2008

B_Skurka said:
Seems to me you could design a plate that shows an aborted baby, with the words Pro-Choice, and then donates any money to support young mother shelters. It would offer the pro-abortion crowd a plate, but somehow I doubt many of them would choose to put on on their car

Like this? Looks to me like a mixed message is being sent...

I wonder what the statistics are for purchase of these plates in the states that offer them.
I know there are over 7000 of the "Choose Life" plates on the road in Ohio, but it would be interesting to know the numbers on the opposite side in the states that offer them.

Melensdad · Nov 20, 2008

Andy, that Montana plate is deceptive. My suggestion is to show abortion for what it is. We know that something over 95% of all abortions are performed because it is simply inconvenient for the mother to have the baby. Why not let people see what it really looks like?

Melensdad · Nov 20, 2008

Well it appears that the ACLU may have lost yet another case?

This was just approved in Arizona.

Court Orders Approval of Ariz. ‘Choose Life’ License Plates
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/nov/08112003.html

Order follows U.S. Supreme Court’s denial of state’s appeal
Arizona, November 20, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) — A federal court on Wednesday ordered the Arizona License Plate Commission to approve a specialty license plate featuring the words "Choose Life."

Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund and the Center for Arizona Policy represented the applicants for the plates, the Arizona Life Coalition.

"Pro-life groups shouldn't be discriminated against for expressing their beliefs," said ADF Senior Counsel Gary McCaleb. "Many other groups have been allowed to participate in the Arizona specialty plate program. The commission had no legitimate reason to selectively exclude this group. We're pleased that the plates will soon be available to the public.”

The Arizona Life Coalition, a 100,000-member organization, applied for a specialty license plate with the slogan "Choose Life" in 2002. The Arizona License Plate Commission, which oversees such requests, denied the application.

In September 2003, ADF attorneys filed suit jointly with the Center for Arizona Policy on behalf of the coalition. In January 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled in Arizona Life Coalition v. Stanton that the commission had violated Life Coalition's First Amendment right to free speech when the commission denied the request to create the license plate. The commission appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the high court declined to hear the case (http://www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4702).

According to the judgment issued Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Rosenblatt, "Defendants shall hold a formal meeting in their official capacity as the Arizona License Plate Commission no later than January 23, 2009. At that meeting, Defendants shall approve Plaintiffs' application of September 27, 2002, for a specialty license plate.”

The full text of the judgment issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona in Arizona Life Coalition v. Stanton is available at http://www.telladf.org/UserDocs/ALCjudgment.

AndyM · Nov 20, 2008

B_Skurka said:
Andy, that Montana plate is deceptive.

Deception? Isn't that how they get people on their side? After all, otherwise they would say they are "pro-abortion".
Pro-choice? What is the choice of which they are speaking? Life?

Melensdad · Nov 20, 2008

Well I'm guessing, and maybe I'm wrong. . . but is the Montana plate from a pro-life group or a pro-abortion group? I presume it is a pro-abortion group. . . am I wrong?

AndyM · Nov 20, 2008

B_Skurka said:
Well I'm guessing, and maybe I'm wrong. . . but is the Montana plate from a pro-life group or a pro-abortion group? I presume it is a pro-abortion group. . . am I wrong?

You're absolutely right... it was sponsored by Planned Parenthood and puts out a very deceptive message. How is abortion "pro-family"?

ACLU lost, Indiana keeps "In God We Trust" license plates

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