Scarlet Letter Laws

[Buzzz]

Our legislature is thinking about mandating fluorescent green license plates for serious sex offenders, on the grounds that kids will learn to steer clear of cars with those plates.

Link to story

I guess this is a good idea in theory, but of course, the people with those plates will be a magnet ridicule and/or violence (not that they don't deserve it, but still). But the most ridiculous thing is that it's not retroactive, so Ohio's 15,000 or so registered sex offenders won't be affected.

We already have yellow plates for those convicted of a DUI, which guarantees that you'll get pulled over if you do so much as swerve over the line.

I really don't know what to think about this kind of thing. Thoughts?

[Sweet Pea]

buzzz said:

Our legislature is thinking about mandating fluorescent green license plates for serious sex offenders, on the grounds that kids will learn to steer clear of cars with those plates.

Link to story

I guess this is a good idea in theory, but of course, the people with those plates will be a magnet ridicule and/or violence (not that they don't deserve it, but still). But the most ridiculous thing is that it's not retroactive, so Ohio's 15,000 or so registered sex offenders won't be affected.

We already have yellow plates for those convicted of a DUI, which guarantees that you'll get pulled over if you do so much as swerve over the line.

I really don't know what to think about this kind of thing. Thoughts?

pretty soon we'll have plates of all the colors of the rainbow and it will become meaningless.

just think if you wanted to buy a used car and it had those plates on it. yowza!

[Astroruss]

But aren't there laws against drivers having too attention detracting symbols on their cars? Like some bumber lights are prohibited in Texas, as well as some bumber stickers displaying excessive profanity, etc.

I don't think this bill has much of a chance of being signed into law myself, but maybe it will be.

Even if it is enacted into law, i doubt the Supreme Court will let it stand. Likely the ACLU or some other organization will make a show over it, and the courts will be seeing lawsuits over a law such as this.

Of course, the ACLU would justified in moving against an impractical measure such as this. I can't say i agree with them much, but for this sort of measure i would.


The other thing i would bring up is the number of registered sex offenders that do not have cars already, and so a law such as this wouldn't make much difference anyways.


Not to mention the number of red-greeen color blind people out there driving on the road already. A law like this wouldn't make much difference.

I'm sure there are other arguments against a law such as this being enacted too.

[Astroruss]

sweetpea said:

buzzz said:

Our legislature is thinking about mandating fluorescent green license plates for serious sex offenders, on the grounds that kids will learn to steer clear of cars with those plates.

Link to story

I guess this is a good idea in theory, but of course, the people with those plates will be a magnet ridicule and/or violence (not that they don't deserve it, but still). But the most ridiculous thing is that it's not retroactive, so Ohio's 15,000 or so registered sex offenders won't be affected.

We already have yellow plates for those convicted of a DUI, which guarantees that you'll get pulled over if you do so much as swerve over the line.

I really don't know what to think about this kind of thing. Thoughts?

pretty soon we'll have plates of all the colors of the rainbow and it will become meaningless.

just think if you wanted to buy a used car and it had those plates on it. yowza!

Yeah, no kidding. It would make me wonder what the hell went on in that car, and i'd insist on the dealer getting new upholstry put it before i bought it! ;D

[Sweet Pea]

superruss said:

sweetpea said:

pretty soon we'll have plates of all the colors of the rainbow and it will become meaningless.

just think if you wanted to buy a used car and it had those plates on it. yowza!

Yeah, no kidding. It would make me wonder what the hell went on in that car, and i'd insist on the dealer getting new upholstry put it before i bought it! ;D

actually, i was thinking you might have the neighbors burning crosses on your lawn or somethin'.

[Paulinus]

Seems a bit pointless I cant see that measure affecting the amount of offences. Well with the exception of heavy sack beatings of course which will increase tenfold.

[Stranger]

I'm thinking they should just castrate them and be done with it.

[Astroruss]

sweetpea said:

superruss said:

Yeah, no kidding. It would make me wonder what the hell went on in that car, and i'd insist on the dealer getting new upholstry put it before i bought it! ;D

actually, i was thinking you might have the neighbors burning crosses on your lawn or somethin'.

Oh. I thought you were talking about something else.

[Astroruss]

stranger said:

I'm thinking they should just castrate them and be done with it.

Eh, i don't know. A sex offense sounds like a horrific crime, but depending on the state you live in, it can range a great deal, from simple walking around in your underwear in the front yard.

So i wouldn't be so quick to judge them on that basis alone.

[Sweet Pea]

superruss said:

stranger said:

I'm thinking they should just castrate them and be done with it.

Eh, i don't know. A sex offense sounds like a horrific crime, but depending on the state you live in, it can range a great deal, from simple walking around in your underwear in the front yard.

So i wouldn't be so quick to judge them on that basis alone.

yeah, they kinda lost me when they started going after teenaged guys who were a year or two older than the teenaged girl involved...yeah, that makes sense.

[Stranger]

superruss said:

Eh, i don't know. A sex offense sounds like a horrific crime, but depending on the state you live in, it can range a great deal, from simple walking around in your underwear in the front yard.

So i wouldn't be so quick to judge them on that basis alone.

On which basis alone did you think I was judging them?

Both the article and Buzzz's post did say serious sex offenders. I wouldn't exactly put those nonsensical cases in that category.

Besides which, it was slightly, partly, maybe, to some unknown degree... in jest.

[Astroruss]

stranger said:

superruss said:

Eh, i don't know. A sex offense sounds like a horrific crime, but depending on the state you live in, it can range a great deal, from simple walking around in your underwear in the front yard.

So i wouldn't be so quick to judge them on that basis alone.

On which basis alone did you think I was judging them?

Both the article and Buzzz's post did say serious sex offenders. I wouldn't exactly put those nonsensical cases in that category.

Besides which, it was slightly, partly, maybe, to some unknown degree... in jest.

Hehehe, no problem, dude.

No no, i just know that from my short lived legal studies. A sex offense, like i said, sounds like a big deal, but it really isn't. In Texas, and other states too, you can be prosecuted for walking around in your underwear in the front yard, even if you are on your own property. It makes no difference.

And if you're around little kids . . .watch out. Mind your own business no matter what. Especially if you're a man.

Nowadays, i won't go near a little kid of either gender. Just too risky.

[Gina]

Instead of plates, they should just brand it on their forehead that they are scumbag sex offenders.
Or better yet never ever let the scum out of prison in the first place.

[skyhint]

Seems like a good idea until someone with an out of state licence plate gets their car vandalized by someone who can't tell the difference. I heard of something similar happening when a woman had her house vandalized by someone who didn't know the difference between pediatrician and pedophile.

On a less serious note: youtube.com/watch?v=LPV-nX4YWdY

[annaa]

stranger said:

I'm thinking they should just castrate them and be done with it.

Right on.