Honk If You Violated My Rights
By Wyatt Earp | October 1, 2010
Meet Byron Schirmbeck. The Baytown, Texas native has been protesting red light cameras by holding a sign urging drivers to vote against a ballot measure.
How did the city respond? They threatened to arrest, cite, and fine Mr. Schirmbeck for the “crime” of exercising his First Amendment rights. In Texas!
A city official in Baytown, Texas on Thursday threatened a resident with fines of up to $500 for the crime of holding a sign urging passersby to vote against automated enforcement in an upcoming election. Byron Schirmbeck, the organizer of a ballot measure that would ban the use of red light cameras, was merely trying to remind passing motorists of the upcoming November 2 vote in a quiet demonstration held on Wednesday afternoon.
“The city of Baytown observed you holding and maintaining a sign advertising, ‘Ban Red Light Cameras’ in the city’s right of way on Garth Road and West Baker Road on September 22, 2010,” Baytown Sign Inspector Debbie Sherman wrote. “It shall be unlawful for a person to intentionally or knowingly erect or maintain a sign on or above property he has no right to occupy without the written consent of the owner of such property.”
After Schirmbeck appealed to mayor Stephen DonCarlos, the city quickly reversed itself. (H/T – Al B.)
Personally, Schirmbeck should demand that the city official stand in traffic and hold a sign that says, “I am a jackass.”
Topics: Duct Tape Advisory | 6 Comments »
October 1st, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Agreed!
October 1st, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Proof positive that the Texas open borders are a menace to our liberties.
Not from South America immigrants, but from yankee socialists. I believe a red light camera was invented “en el norte.”
October 2nd, 2010 at 1:52 am
Someone needs to remind these assclowns that they work for US…..not the other way around…
Reason #3438834 why I will not vote for any incumbents for about the next 20 years or so…..FIRE THEM ALL
October 2nd, 2010 at 12:30 pm
It can never happen here.
heh.
October 2nd, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Perhaps the citizens of Baytown should check into the playbook of the citizens of Bell, California. Seems that criminal charges are now a precedent for really screwing things up and stealing from the taxpayers.
October 3rd, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Wow, I guess the leaders of this town, thought that since Obama is skipping the part of the Constitution to secure the border, they could skip the First Amendment.