Judge Throws Out BMV 'In God We Trust' Suit (Judge Rejects ACLU Claim)

The Indy Channel ^ | 04/17/08 | Staff

[Abathar]

Ha! Wake up to a Friday earthquake AND an ACLU smackdown.

Memorable way to start a weekend!

[A_Former_Democrat]

This goes to show how sick the freaks in the ACLU are, to get all up in arms over this. Not to mention waste of time and resources.

I’m sure these little brats are quite proud of themselves.

[dead]

"We're obviously disappointed," Falk said. "It's our position still that the differential treatment afforded between the environmental plate and the `In God We Trust' plate

Not what he intended I'm sure, but he basically admits that environmentalism, in it's current form, is akin to a religious belief.

[stylin19a]

"Courts are not to second-guess the Indiana General Assembly when it comes to calculations of this sort,"

how'd this guy slip in as a judge....Rats must have been asleep.

[albie]

I’m sure the ACLU would have no problem with a reference to “Ramadan” or the “Koran” on a plate.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

"Courts are not to second-guess the Indiana General Assembly when it comes to calculations of this sort," Miller wrote, contrasting the In God We Trust plates with other specialty plates that require the payment of administrative fees.

Judicial restraint and proper understanding of the division of powers? Wow, that's even more important than the actual substance of the ruling itself!

[RC2]

Actually, they are proud of themselves. I believe they get payed, win or loose. Their funds need to be cut off if they loose a case. Can’t remember where I heard it but I believe the government pays them, win or loose.

[Abathar]

That is exactly what I got from it myself. I also wanted to note that part of the $15 fee for those plates goes towards environmental causes in the state.

I wonder how loud they would scream if the state did decide to charge a $15 fee just like that and then donate the same amount to religious causes?

[Hoodat]

Check out the Indiana State Constitution:

PREAMBLE

TO THE END, that justice be established, public order maintained,
and liberty perpetuated; WE, the People of the State of Indiana,
grateful to

ALMIGHTY GOD

for the free exercise of the right to choose our own form of government,
do ordain this Constitution.

[Liberty Valance]

bttt

[A. Morgan]

I’ve got a “In God We Trust” on my pick up.. this year I’ll get one for the car! The ACLU can kiss my A55!

[politicalwit]

The “In God We Trust” license appears to be one of the most popular tags here in NWI.

[devistate one four]

I’ve heard it many times on various talk shows, and with no dispute either. Must be true

[antiRepublicrat]

I’m sure the ACLU would have no problem with a reference to “Ramadan” or the “Koran” on a plate.

That's not the issue. The issue is that this specialty plate is being given preferential treatment because it is religious in nature, in that no specialty plate fee is charged. I think the plaintiff is right, it is preferring people of a religion which is against their constitution. OTOH, of all the nit-picking, BS little things to start a lawsuit over...

[DannyTN]

IN context of the Indiana Preamble posted in 9, clearly they didn’t mean that recognition of God was preferring a particular religion, or their constituion itself would be in violation.

[Hacksaw]

The problem is that when all this is over, even if the ACLU loses, they will have cost the taxpayers a lot of cash, that hey have no obligation to refund.

[rawhide]

What is really ironic about the ACLU suing in these cases is that they get paid by the US taxpayers whether they win or lose. So it is no skin off their nose if they happen to lose. They just keep fighting, getting paid by us as they do. And it keeps them in business.

[Hacksaw]

Their funds need to be cut off if they loose a case. Can’t remember where I heard it but I believe the government pays them, win or loose.

They collect legal fees if they win, but are under no obligation to reimburse the taxpayers when they lose. That is why they frequently pick on small towns who don't have the funds to fight them (Hazelton, PA, Dover, PA, etc..)

[antiRepublicrat]

clearly they didn’t mean that recognition of God was preferring a particular religion, or their constituion itself would be in violation.

Everybody knows what religion they're referring to, but that's still not the issue. Religious people don't have to pay the fee for their custom plate, but non-religious people have to pay for the others.

[Mr. Lucky]

The ACLU seeks to compare apples and oranges and then complain that they're not the same. As I understand it from a friend at the DMV, The plates for which an administrative fee applies generate $ for the benefit of the chosen cause, requiring that the funds actually be administered. These plates generate no money for God.

Mr. Falk has now lost two huge cases in the last year (the other one complained about the State Legislature opening each session with prayer), meaning that he may actually have to get a job to support himself.