In the Commonwealth of Virginia, rubber testicles may be on their way out.
This is how HB 1452 reads:
"No person shall display upon or equip any motor vehicle with any object or device that depicts, represents, or resembles human genitalia, regardless of size or scale."
The novelty item isn't new but it is striking a chord for Delegate Lionell Spruill, Sr. One of his constituents recently complained about them. His young daughter, it seems, saw a pair on a truck and asked what they were for.
I mean, what do you say? Driving down the road isn't the best place to have that conversation with your little girl.
So, the bill was written. It's only a couple of lines but it strips the ability for anyone to display those replicas on their vehicle.
A few years ago, when I was working in Virginia the state lawmakers had another bill they were considering.
It was dubbed the "droopy drawers" law. It was supposed to outlaw people from wearing jeans and the like if they weren't covering a person's butt. You know how the kids wear 'em these days--a la Hip Hop Style.
The bill didn't pass. What it did do was embarrass much of the state because the bill was made fun of across the country.
I think HB 1452 is poised to do the same thing.
Sure, these "things" are in bad taste. But should it be illegal?
I'm sure the cops in Virginia have better things to do than to pull someone over and write them a ticket because a pair of tasteless testicles are hanging from the back end of his or her pickup.
Comments (3)
I applaud the new law although I haven't seen too many displays around here (Thank God!)
Posted by Eric Jorgenson | January 16, 2008 10:58 PM
Posted on January 16, 2008 22:58
Oh, the sticky problem of freedom of expression. Novelty item is certainly a delicate way of describing it. Would the law also apply to women's silhouettes so beloved by some truckers? Possibly -- which could lead to an interesting court battle. If the novelty items are not a public hazard nor cause the vehicle to be unsafe, they would seem to be a form of expression. In some ways, just like all bumper stickers decorating many cars this election season. How to them explain to your children? A younger child would understand "Some people don't know how to express themselves, so they do silly things." A teenager would understand "Anyone who would put that on their car or truck is compensating."
Posted by Carol Ritacca | January 16, 2008 9:04 PM
Posted on January 16, 2008 21:04
This Virginian is so proud Chicagoland is learning all about this.
Posted by David Bass | January 16, 2008 4:42 PM
Posted on January 16, 2008 16:42