Are customized license plates freedom of speech?

[Blake]

"....In 2010, Tennessee resident Leah Gilliam applied to have a custom license plate at the state's DMV. She wanted the plate to read "69PWNDU," a reference to an online gaming term that means "owned you," used if you best an opponent in a gaming match. The plate was approved, but ten years later in May of 2020, she suddenly received word that her plate had been rejected by the state, who called the term offensive...

......Now four years later, Nashville's Fox 17 and The Tennessean report that the Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled against Gilliam. In a far-reaching decision, the court says that because plates are issued by government agencies, they're government speech, not free speech, and therefore aren't protected under the first amendment....."

https://www.jalopnik.com/1801756/tennessee-supreme-court-ruling-vanity-license-plates-free-speech/


The government is going to continue to define what is offensive for everyone. Neat.

[Winehole23]

ah yes, "government free speech"

this recently came up in Florida, when Florida state agencies bought TV ads against a constitutional amendment, while threatening to prosecute any TV station that ran an advertisement for the amendment.

https://x.com/Jason_Garcia/status/1842646033890746744

[sickdsm]

"....In 2010, Tennessee resident Leah Gilliam applied to have a custom license plate at the state's DMV. She wanted the plate to read "69PWNDU," a reference to an online gaming term that means "owned you," used if you best an opponent in a gaming match. The plate was approved, but ten years later in May of 2020, she suddenly received word that her plate had been rejected by the state, who called the term offensive...

......Now four years later, Nashville's Fox 17 and The Tennessean report that the Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled against Gilliam. In a far-reaching decision, the court says that because plates are issued by government agencies, they're government speech, not free speech, and therefore aren't protected under the first amendment....."

https://www.jalopnik.com/1801756/tennessee-supreme-court-ruling-vanity-license-plates-free-speech/


The government is going to continue to define what is offensive for everyone. Neat.

Was on a plane this winter, started watching Super bad on the screen while I was reading for background. Assumed it was edited, guess not, wife hit me on the arm little kid behind me was watching titties on screen.

I'm sure 69, fck, etc are all flagged. Surprised it look this long for that to happen.

[Blake]

Was on a plane this winter, started watching Super bad on the screen while I was reading for background. Assumed it was edited, guess not, wife hit me on the arm little kid behind me was watching titties on screen.

I'm sure 69, fck, etc are all flagged. Surprised it look this long for that to happen.

Yeah watching movies on a plane isn't really the same thing tbh.

I mean, the DPS/DMV can have a list of dos and don'ts but it's interesting to me where the offensive line is drawn.

[sickdsm]

Of course it's not the same thing. It's a semi relatable story of what's appropriate but in the wrong setting.

You think 69 is interesting as to why it's flagged?

[Blake]

Of course it's not the same thing. It's a semi relatable story of what's appropriate but in the wrong setting.

You think 69 is interesting as to why it's flagged?

Yeah, it's just a number.

[baseline bum]

Reminds me of Florida Man, I gotta get that window sticker:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7MyWDDmkF0

[SnakeBoy]

muh vanity plates :cry