The Justice Centre was interviewed by CBC last week about the RCMP’s decision to charge a man $543 for displaying a profane anti-Harper sign in the rear window of his vehicle.

Rob Wells of Leduc, Alberta, said that he placed the bright-pink sign in his vehicle with the words “F____ Harper” because of his political disagreements with the Harper government.

« Obscenity and profanity do have a degrading and debasing effect on society, » stated Justice Centre president John Carpay.

« It’s something that should be discouraged, but it should be discouraged by citizens, not by the raw use of state power in the form of a $500 ticket. »

The ticket was issued because of the “distraction” and not based on its obscenity.  A law banning obscene or profane language in public might possibly be upheld as valid by a court.  But banning speech because it’s a “distraction” sets a dangerous precedent for other political, moral and religious expression.