Someone flips you the bird, what do you do?

**Twan007** · 03-02-10, 02:03 PM

"I immediately activated my emergency lights as I perceived the driver of the vehicle to be attempting to flag me down. Upon coming into contact with the driver, I learned that he had *blah blah blah* and the driver became belligerent and verbally abusive toward me. I instructed the driver to do the two step, and he pulled away from me... I then proceeded to take said driver into custody and charge him with said offenses"

hey... how was I to know that the moron wasn't trying to flag me down for a real emergency

- i mean he was trying to get my attention for something right? and after all, when we have a citizen who is trying to get our attention, shouldn't we see what they need... don't they pay our salary and don't we owe them at least a little bit of our time and attention?

yeah, i'm grumpy today

**obxemt** · 03-02-10, 07:03 PM

LOL, there are some excellent retorts here. I sincerely appreciate the laugh after a long day.

Since when is disorderly conduct (in speech or gesture) protected by the first amendment?

**MacLean** · 03-02-10, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by obxemt

Since when is disorderly conduct (in speech or gesture) protected by the first amendment?

Did you want actual case law?

The first amendment has almost ALWAYS been held by SCOTUS to protect the most offensive expression first and most of all.

Most disorderly conduct statutes are in fact held unconstitutional every time they rise.

Start with Tinker v. Des Moines, work your way through Bethel v. Fraser, and end up at Virginia v. Black.