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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 urgent attention to speeding near the park. He cited Cohen v. California and other constitutional precedents, arguing the sign is not obscene, threatening, or incitement but a forceful safety message.
Council members and the city attorney questioned whether local nuisance code and the government’s interest in protecting minors create allowable limits. The city attorney told the council there are no Iowa decisions precisely on point and recommended the city develop ordinance language that clarifies protections for children while respecting time, place and manner rules on speech.
Chief Archer of the Perry Police Department said officers have patrolled the ballpark area, deployed a speed trailer for months and issued citations in the past, but noted enforcement capacity is limited because patrol officers also respond to other calls.
After discussion, a councilor moved and another seconded a recommendation that staff work with the city attorney to review and revise the nuisance ordinance language related to offensive or indecent displays; the council approved the recommendation and closed the public hearing at 6:41 p.m.
Next steps: staff will draft proposed wording for the nuisance section of the city code for council consideration; the transcript records the motion and the hearing’s closure but does not include the final draft language.
