License Plate Controversy: 2Xtian4aPl8?
A constitutional showdown in South Carolina over the wall between church and state
Christian-themed license plates are inching closer to becoming legal in South Carolina, setting up a new constitutional showdown over freedom of expression and the wall between church and state. The proposed plate would carry the words "I believe" in front of an image of the cross.
The popularity of personalized and thematic plates is exploding nationwide, as Stefan Lonce outlines in his upcoming book LCNS2ROM—License to Roam: Vanity License Plates and the GR8 Stories They Tell.
But it's also proving to be a legal nightmare, as political forces battle over what is acceptable. A DMV administrator in South Dakota recently testified before the state legislature on behalf of banning personalized plates altogether, saying it makes the state vulnerable to First Amendment lawsuits. After all, what is perfectly reasonable to one person may be offensive to another.
South Dakota lawmakers dismissed her concerns. But in South Carolina, a number of questions will have to be answered to move these controversial plates forward. And if the law passes, it's likely the courts will have the final say.
—Bret Schulte
Reader Comments
Not Vanity Plates
These plates have 'I Believe' embossed as a motto or slogan on the plate. Unlike a vanity or specialty plate, a change where a motto is imprinted on the plate requires approval of the state legislature. With over 90% of their constituents being Christian, I don't believe the legislature will approve a similar plate with a Muslim sickle or a Wiccan pentagram. It puts SC in the position of determining which religions they'll allow to have the plate, which is pretty much putting them in the position of determining what religions are 'valid'. As a resident of SC somewhat familiar with our state legislators, I predict it will be a cold day in hell before anyone but a Jew or Christian gets an 'I Believe' license plate with their own religion's symbol on it in place of the cross.
i believe
Good God--Iraq in turmoil, one out of five people on earth living below the poverty line and now we've got personalized Jesus plates??!!! lol
All joking aside, as long as these personalized license plates are just that--personalized--I don't have a problem. It's not offensive to me--just not my taste. You don't need a bumper sticker to be a practicing Christian, but if it helps you as a daily reminder, go ahead.
Freedom of speech is not free
I believe the personalized plates entitled americans to their first ammendment.
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