TAYLOR, Mich. (AP) — When it comes to the middle finger, police might need a thicker skin.
A federal appeals court says a Michigan woman’s constitutional rights were violated when she was handed a speeding ticket after giving the finger to a suburban Detroit officer in 2017. The decision means a lawsuit by Debra Cruise-Gulyas can proceed.
In a 3-0 decision Wednesday, the court said Taylor Officer Matthew Minard “should have known better,” even if the driver was rude.
Minard stopped Cruise-Gulyas and wrote her a ticket for a lesser violation. But when that stop was over, Cruise-Gulyas raised her middle finger.
Minard pulled her over again and changed the ticket to a more serious speeding offense.
Cruise-Gulyas sued, saying her free-speech rights and her rights against unreasonable seizure were violated.
muddledandbefuddled on March 15th, 2019 at 18:29 UTC »
There was a similar case out of Liberty, NY. A CT man got bagged for speeding, and when he paid his fine, he wrote "FUCK YOUR SHITTY TOWN BITCHES" on the payment stub. (Yes- he wrote in all caps).
The town refused to accept his payment, and ordered him to appear in court, where he was subsequently arrested and jailed. He sued the town in federal court, where his statement was ruled to be protected political speech (statement was clearly made in the context of complaining about government activity).
The town eventually settled with him for $75,000... which I'm sure more than covered the cost of the speeding ticket!
SC487 on March 15th, 2019 at 13:32 UTC »
Had a teacher who was a former police officer, he said if you keep your hand inside the vehicle, they wouldn’t do anything, if your hand was outside they would cite you for using an improper hand gesture to signify which way you were turning.
I can’t see this holding up in court and it may be why we became a teacher instead of staying a cop
DyslexicAsshole on March 15th, 2019 at 12:51 UTC »
“In a 3-0 decision Wednesday, the court said Taylor Officer Matthew Minard “should have known better,” even if the driver was rude.
Minard stopped Cruise-Gulyas and wrote her a ticket for a lesser violation. But when that stop was over, Cruise-Gulyas raised her middle finger.
Minard pulled her over again and changed the ticket to a more serious speeding offense.
Cruise-Gulyas sued, saying her free-speech rights and her rights against unreasonable seizure were violated.”