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Resident Steven Carrick argues First Amendment protects profane traffic sign; council asks staff to review nuisance ordinance
Summary
At a nuisance abatement hearing, resident Steven Carrick defended a sign reading “Slow the f down” as constitutionally protected speech addressing traffic safety. After legal back-and-forth with the city attorney and police, the council voted to have staff and the city attorney draft revisions to the nuisance ordinance for council review.
Steven Carrick told the Perry City Council that a sign he posts near a Little League field — transcribed as “Slow the f down” with an asterisk in place of one letter — is protected political expression aimed at improving traffic safety and therefore shielded by the First Amendment.
“I put it up in the spring when ball season starts because parents get their loved ones to the ball games,” Carrick said, explaining the sign’s intent was to draw…
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