Scott McLean’s Chevy Malibu was legally parked on Old Dominion Boulevard in Alexandria on a fall day two years ago. But a ticket was tucked under his windshield wiper anyway.
He’d been assessed a $40 fine for violating the city’s ban on displaying “For Sale” signs on vehicles that are parked on the street.
McLean paid the ticket — reluctantly. And he didn’t forget.
Now he wants to sell his 2007 Dodge Ram truck, again by placing a price sticker and phone number in the window.
Rather than risking another citation, he called the Sacramento, Calif.-based Pacific Legal Foundation, a libertarian organization that can’t stand when the government seems to be encroaching on individual liberties.
“I can put a bumper sticker on my vehicle about my religious views and moral views,” said McLean, 35, and an attorney in his own right. “Those pocketbook issues are just as important. For me, free speech doesn’t have any qualifiers.”
‘For Sale’ is no sale in Alexandria, where cars parked on streets can’t be advertised
The Constitution of the United States: Amendment 1 (The First Amendment – Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression)
Sell Your Car Yourself? Not in Alexandria Virginia You Won’t!
You’d think Alexandria, the home of Geo. Washington, would have known better after Pagan v Fruchey, 492 F.3d 766 (6th Cir. 2007).
Update 8:15 pm: We love this CYA BS: “it is in the best interest of the public to suspend enforcement of the ordinance”
Not to mention embarrassing after the Alexandria City Mayor and City Council were notified in July of 2014, in writing, by a resident of Alexandria that the ordinance was unconstitutional. Sheesh.
Also see #6 under “Additional Important Parking Facts” (screen shot October 28, 2014, 10:30 pm):
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