The Crittenden Automotive Library

1st Amendment Right?

1st Amendment Right?

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
March 20, 2010

Last week I happened to drive by 134-136 First Street in Woodstock (just west of Clay Street) and passed this black Dodge Bighorn pick-up truck. The prominent four-letter word on the tailgate got my attention as I passed. (Click on the image to enlarge the photo; then click on the Back button on your browser to return here.)

It's easy to see the top bumper sticker. "F*CK"

The pink bumper sticker looks like it reads, "yes, I'm a bitch. so f*cking what?"

And the third sticker down reads, "What the f*ck are you looking at?"

And the bottom one reads, "Road rage princess"

No doubt that any reasonable person would quickly form an opinion of the driver of that truck, and I strongly suspect it would not be a positive opinion.

You couldn't get a license plate with a profanity on it. Should you be allowed to drive around with the first three bumper stickers?

Just imagine a mom and three grade school kids following that truck. How does Mom explain to her kids about the jerk (jerkess?) driving it? The truck is apparently owned by a woman. Don't you just wonder what she looks like?

Now, there is a way for the Woodstock Police (or any law enforcement officer) to address this:

"Good afternoon, miss. I noticed your bumper stickers; however, they are not the reason I am going to write you these three tickets. You didn't stop before crossing the white line. You didn't signal within 100' of the intersection. You failed to yield to the car on your right. Sign here, please."

After the third or fourth set of tickets, the driver would probably begin to make the connection between the bumper stickers and the multiple tickets.