<![CDATA[Legality of Flipping the Bird...]]>Anyone have any hard evidence as to whether or not flipping someone off is illegal or not? According to the 6th grade DARE officer it's considered 5th degree assault, according to an article referencing some lawsuit, a court ruled it legal under free speech. Anyone have any hard evidence to prove it is legal/illegal (IE something besides "well that's freedom of speech!")?

]]>https://fargostreet.com/topic/10424/legality-of-flipping-the-bird...RSS for NodeThu, 28 May 2026 22:27:47 GMTTue, 01 May 2007 19:06:39 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Mon, 07 May 2007 12:43:54 GMT]]>I think that flipping someone off could be considered Disorderly Conduct, but no way is that assault. I looked it up and all you have to do is "alarm, annoy, or harrass" someone to be guilty of Disorderly Conduct!

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/158027https://fargostreet.com/post/158027Mon, 07 May 2007 12:43:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Sat, 05 May 2007 20:25:26 GMT]]>my dad flipped someone off for cutting him off on his motorcycle. later that night the police showed up at our house and issued him a citation. this was probably about 20 years ago though lol.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157831https://fargostreet.com/post/157831Sat, 05 May 2007 20:25:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 22:48:54 GMT]]>haha, owned.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157193https://fargostreet.com/post/157193Tue, 01 May 2007 22:48:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 22:46:47 GMT]]>

MisterCMK;167397 wrote:
Dustin, the police just hate you. That is all.

No they had to come talk to me because the assbags called me in after I returned the favor to them and they chased me...err...stalked me around town for 2 hours before finding my car parked.

Other than that and the douchebag that pulled me over for going "35 in a 30" who I don't think is on the force anymore, I have no issues with the Moorhead PD.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157191https://fargostreet.com/post/157191Tue, 01 May 2007 22:46:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 22:34:52 GMT]]>

weshole;167395 wrote:
legacy image

Truth hurts. 😄

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157189https://fargostreet.com/post/157189Tue, 01 May 2007 22:34:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 22:34:31 GMT]]>Dustin, the police just hate you. That is all.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157187https://fargostreet.com/post/157187Tue, 01 May 2007 22:34:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 22:32:42 GMT]]>Well alls I know is that I had 3 cops at my house one night for flipping someone back off after they did it to me. That + the DARE officer makes it sound like the local PD has flipping the bird as a high profile crime. Whether or not it's illegal is another matter though...I still want to see a high court ruling on the issue and from the looks of the article I read, it IS legal/freedom of speech...but i'm not 100% certain.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157186https://fargostreet.com/post/157186Tue, 01 May 2007 22:32:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 22:31:56 GMT]]>

MisterCMK;167389 wrote:
It must be that time of month for him

legacy image

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157185https://fargostreet.com/post/157185Tue, 01 May 2007 22:31:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 22:08:13 GMT]]>i'm not sure if flipping the bird is illegal or not....but you can pull a gun on someone if they are on your property and you don't want them to be

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157183https://fargostreet.com/post/157183Tue, 01 May 2007 22:08:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 21:34:50 GMT]]>It must be that time of month for him

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157179https://fargostreet.com/post/157179Tue, 01 May 2007 21:34:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 21:23:53 GMT]]>geez wes, so crabby in this thread.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157178https://fargostreet.com/post/157178Tue, 01 May 2007 21:23:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 20:43:41 GMT]]>Well about three years back, my buddy and i were driving down 13th and he actually saw one of his other buddies in his car he flipd him off as his friend returned the favor...Well we get right in front of BP there before the mall and a police officer pulls us over for assaulting someone in traffic. We didnt get a ticket cuz we both explained it was a friend. So i dont really know if its illegal or not? I just think that cop pulled us over just for the fuck of it... But you would think it could be part of freedom of speech or something?

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157170https://fargostreet.com/post/157170Tue, 01 May 2007 20:43:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 20:14:41 GMT]]>I am actually a lawyer. I founded the firm "Dewey, Screwem & Howe"

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157167https://fargostreet.com/post/157167Tue, 01 May 2007 20:14:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 20:07:09 GMT]]>

weshole;167365 wrote:
Then I would consult an attourney. Since if this came to involving the law, you would need to have one representing you anyway. They would be the ones who would know. I don't think any of the Fargostreet regulars major or practice law.

Right, because only people who charge $200 an hour can really know if something is legal or not:icon_scratch:

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157166https://fargostreet.com/post/157166Tue, 01 May 2007 20:07:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 19:38:17 GMT]]>I will ask my dad next time i talk to him what he thinks of the subject. Im pretty sure that you could fight it away if it happened but some officers would ticket you, some wouldn't i think. Then it would be up to you to fight it and i think eventually you could win on appeal at least.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157159https://fargostreet.com/post/157159Tue, 01 May 2007 19:38:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 19:24:11 GMT]]>I just learned that in Alabama you can threaten someone up and down as far as killing them and whatever and as long as you keep your hands in your pockets and don't gesture then it's legal. The moment you point at them or whatever then you're going to jail. Man some laws are stupid as hell...what difference does it make whether or not you point at someone? The threat should be what matters, not the gestures you make while saying it.

weshole;167365 wrote:
Then I would consult an attourney. Since if this came to involving the law, you would need to have one representing you anyway. They would be the ones who would know. I don't think any of the Fargostreet regulars major or practice law.

I was hoping Chuck might have some handy info.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157156https://fargostreet.com/post/157156Tue, 01 May 2007 19:24:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 19:22:57 GMT]]>

PineInchNenis69;167361 wrote:
I think you're missing my point. I'm just wondering what the ramifications of it are, if there are any...I don't intend to go driving around flipping everyone off. Not looking for a "what can I get away with" type thing. This question stems from a thread on another forum plus a personal experience and that is what really got me wondering.

And since flag burning was ruled speech I believe gestures can be labeled "speech"

Then I would consult an attourney. Since if this came to involving the law, you would need to have one representing you anyway. They would be the ones who would know. I don't think any of the Fargostreet regulars major or practice law.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157155https://fargostreet.com/post/157155Tue, 01 May 2007 19:22:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 19:22:24 GMT]]>I'm pretty sure it's fine. If you can scream "fuck you" to someone, the bird should be legal too.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157154https://fargostreet.com/post/157154Tue, 01 May 2007 19:22:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 19:15:11 GMT]]>

weshole;167360 wrote:
Why are you even asking this question? If an officer confronts you on this, are you going to try and throw it in his face? I don't think I would. But whatever I guess. And, since when is making a physical gesture considered "speech"? Stupid question to ask. Think of something better to ponder on.

I think you're missing my point. I'm just wondering what the ramifications of it are, if there are any...I don't intend to go driving around flipping everyone off. Not looking for a "what can I get away with" type thing. This question stems from a thread on another forum plus a personal experience and that is what really got me wondering.

And since flag burning was ruled speech I believe gestures can be labeled "speech"

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157151https://fargostreet.com/post/157151Tue, 01 May 2007 19:15:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Legality of Flipping the Bird... on Tue, 01 May 2007 19:10:29 GMT]]>

PineInchNenis69;167359 wrote:
Anyone have any hard evidence as to whether or not flipping someone off is illegal or not? According to the 6th grade DARE officer it's considered 5th degree assault, according to an article referencing some lawsuit, a court ruled it legal under free speech. Anyone have any hard evidence to prove it is legal/illegal (IE something besides "well that's freedom of speech!")?

Why are you even asking this question? If an officer confronts you on this, are you going to try and throw it in his face? I don't think I would. But whatever I guess. And, since when is making a physical gesture considered "speech"? Stupid question to ask. Think of something better to ponder on.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/157150https://fargostreet.com/post/157150Tue, 01 May 2007 19:10:29 GMT