Man Flips Off the Police Then Sues

[jad4400]

I live in Oregon and this came up last week or so. A guy named Robert Ekas flipped off a police officer three times while driving on the highway, so the police officer responded by giving Ekas two tickets. Ekas is now suing the county for violating his First Amendment Rights. The video below gives more details about this story.


Here is a link incase the video does not work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fokp8hQ9uig

What are your thoughts about this? I personally believe the guy deserved the tickets, to me you don't go disrespecting the people who go out every day and try to make your lives safe. This reminds me of kids who annoy other kids just to elicit a reaction and then turn around and complain once the other kid gets fed up with him.

Update* I found a small article on the KATU website and it looks like Ekas did flip off the officers out of the blue and he claims that the two tickets he was given was the officers retaliation. Ekas also says that a case in Pittsburgh, where a man did somting similar to this and won $50,000 inspired Ekas to file a similar lawsuit.

Here is the article link: http://clackamas.katu.com/content/man-flips-police-bird-then-sues-when-he-gets-ticketed

 

[Hutchy_Bear]

He deserves those tickets and then should be charged with wasting police time, the stupid penis.

 

[Kuchinawa212]

*faceplam*
I can't even believe this. I really can't. Maybe if I don't think it happened it'll go away

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

I could've swore that you could technically give a Policeman the Birdie and get no 'Official' punishment.
Of course that was something I heard off-hand...

Either way, I hope he loses.

Notice how he only got 2 Tickets for 3 Birds?

 

[Maibus]

The problem goes thus: Freedom of speech is too free sometimes, things like this prove that, but once you start talking about limiting it just a little people fly off the handle and suddenly you're being accused of trying to start some kind of facist state just because people can't make up stories in the news paper. To be honest its times like this that I wish we had a harsher method of cracking down of idiots... like electroshock collars... oh hot damn gave me a vision of someone flipping the bird then the "Peace Protector" hits a button and you see the car swerve.

 

[GodofDisaster]

He deserves the tickets, I mean the police protect and serve the people, they don't need some jackass flipping them off, as they go about their duty.

Also there will probably be a time when he requires the services of the police. I?m willing to bet, that he won?t be so quick to flip them off then.

 

[Insanum]

Definitions of speech on the Web: (language) communication by word of mouth; "his speech was garbled"; "he uttered harsh language"; "he recorded the spoken language of the streets"

Notice how "flipping the bird" isnt covered under speech.

I believe the courts need to flip him the bird & throw his case out.

 

[nepheleim]

Writing invalid tickets is a good way to get suspended from work for a while, so the tickets were probably good. Legally anyway. If you take a look at given state's traffic codes, you'll notice they're about the size of the bible, and cover way more than just "speeding, running light/sign, no license/insurance" that comprise 98% of issued traffic tickets. Flipping the bird just drew attention to the schmuck.

EDIT: He (more than likely) didn't get the tickets FOR flipping the bird. Just as a result of the added attention to his vehicle.

 

[nolongerhere]

I could've swore that you could technically give a Policeman the Birdie and get no 'Official' punishment.
Of course that was something I heard off-hand...

Either way, I hope he loses.

Notice how he only got 2 Tickets for 3 Birds?

"I think he just gave you the finger".
"Ah well, happens all the time".
"He did it again".
"OK, I think he's getting a ticket".
"And again".
"Oh, now that's just taking the piss".

 

[maddawg IAJI]

Uh no....you disrespected an officer. That will get you tickets in most cases. And maybe he should take his own advice and learn from his mistakes instead of dragging this out.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

It's called "disturbing the peace" and that's what this guy did...he had no reason to give them the finger all willy nilly. I say he should have to pay for his stupidity.

 

[Deleted]

I don't see what the big deal is. The fat man didn't do anything wrong, the cop was being a dick. The cop shouldn't have given him a ticket because he was well within his rights. The first amendment as we all knows clearly states that you can insult anyone of authority as much as you want and they have to sit there and agree.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

If he succesfully sues them then that will give me another reason to hate democracy.
He deserved those tickets.

It just goes to show you that people straight up can not handle the "rights" they are given. It's depressing, really.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

He's using the First Amendment as an excuse. Maybe he should the amendments can only be used in a positive, non-violent way.

But this is so funny because of the acts.

 

[Hobo Joe]

America the great!

-.-; people sue so quickly over nothing in America it's absolutely retardedly litigious.

 

[Romblen]

Something very similar happened in my town. Back in September a 23 year old man flipped off the driver in the car next to him, then he ran a red light. What he didn't know was that the other driver was the Police Chief only off duty and in an unmarked car. The Police Chief called ahead and got an on-duty officer to ticket him. Sometime mid February a friend of the ticketed man announced he was suing the city saying it was a, "breach of the first amendment" He's suing for $22 million, which is $1000 per registered voter in my town.

EDIT: This guy deserves a ticket. A police officer will give you a ticket for flipping off anyone. Don't act like you're suddenly the victim because you get caught.

 

[photog212]

I hope the guy wins. Sure he's an ass, but being an ass isn't illegal.

 

[ultrachicken]

I don't think drawing attention to yourself on a busy freeway has to do with free speech.

His story explaining why he gives the finger to police officers is a bunch of bull. He just wants to be able to insult them without them legally being able to do anything about it.
Basically, the guy's a prick.