October 24, 2007We've all seen cars with personalized license plates. Some of them can be quite humorous or clever, and certainly present a diversion for commuters stuck in rush hour traffic. These plates also provide motorists with an opportunity to express themselves - their sense of humor, their priorities, even their occupation.
However, in Vermont, one thing motorists
cannot express is their faith.
In 2004, Shawn Byrne submitted an application for a personalized license plate in Vermont. A month later, he received a reply stating that his choices, all of which referred to John 3:16, were "deemed to be a combination that refers to deity and has been denied for that reason."
If you find that shocking, you'll be amazed to learn that we have had to appeal this case all the way to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit!
"For the DMV to decide that Vermont car owners can identify who they are and what they believe on personalized plates - unless what identifies them is their religious beliefs - is blatantly unconstitutional," said ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman.
"It is our intention that Shawn's free speech be restored once and for all." Vermont is not the only state that ADF has confronted for policies involving personalized license plates. We have taken similar action in New Jersey, Arizona, Missouri, New York, and Louisiana, working to end viewpoint discrimination when pro-life and other organizations are denied the opportunity to offer specialty license plates.
Please pray that our efforts are successful, by God's grace, and that religious expression is protected not only in Vermont, but throughout the country as the founders of this country intended!