Starting Friday, Tennessee drivers caught with obscene or patently offensive bumper stickers, window signs or other markings on their vehicle visible to other drivers face an automatic $50 fine.
Okay, define obscene or patently offensive. I think perhaps an example of the former could be the license plate frame I saw on a convertible in California, driven by a beautiful blonde, which read: My Other Ride Is Your Husband. I still remember that day, summoning all it took to avoid driving into the rear of her car out of anger.
But what is patently offensive? I would imagine that a bumper sticker reading "Meat is Murder . . . Tasty, Tasty Murder" would be patently offensive to a member of PETA. I personally see the "Coexist" bumper stickers and while it just causes me to thinki, "Well, there goes another stupid moon bat . . . bless their heart," to a evangelical Christian, the grouping of the Cross with other religious symbols may be patently offensive to them.
I think this is a line that cannot be defined. The obscene part may be enforceable - I'd use the old advice I would give my clients, never put in writing what you wouldn't want a judge or your mama to read - but "patently offensive" requires too much subjective analysis. And laws can't rely on that in a diverse society.
Yes, ladies, like cats, too many bumper stickers just broadcasts the fact you're crazy
After all, I could argue that "Obama 2012" is patently offensive and lose that one . . . but it is obscene.
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