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Religion & Law

: Religion Clause

Suit Challenges Refusal To Issue Vanity Plates Refering To God

By Howard M. Friedman

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In Indiana, for an added fee the Bureau of Motor Vehicles issues personalized license plates bearing the driver's selected combination of letters and numbers. Indiana Code Ann. 9-18-15-4 permits the BMV to refuse an application of the requested lettering would be "offensive to good taste and decency." A state regulation interpreting this statute (140 Ind. Adm. Code 2-5-2) prohibits vanity plates that refer to race, religion, deity, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or political party or affiliation" except for generally accepted references to race or ethnic heritage. Elizabeth Ferris applied for plates reading "BE GODS"-- which she explained was inspired by a Christian musician and meant "belonging to God." On Monday, Ferris filed suit in federal district court (full text of complaint) alleging that the refusal to issue her the requested plates violated the free speech, free exercise, equal protection and due process clauses of the U.S. Constitution. Alliance Defense fund issued a release announcing filing of the lawsuit. It pointed out that Ferris had been issued the plates for 9 years previously before this refusal, and that the state issues its own "In God We Trust" specialty plates. (See prior related posting.) Yesterday's Indy Star also reported on Ferris' lawsuit.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on November 19, 2008 (boomark / email).