Each Friday, from 4 to 6 p.m., living wage activists stand in front of the Courtyard by Marriott on West Main Street holding "Honk if you support Living Wage" placards.

Quite often, the citizens of Charlottesville and Albemarle gladly accomodate. So it should come as no surprise that -- after 40 weeks of demonstrations -- the Charlottesville police might receive complaints from surrounding businesses.

Just last May, Executive Director of the UVA Medical Alumni Association Brian Campbell spoke quite angrily about the inconvenience it caused his own staff. Yet it was not until Friday, July 28, 2001 that the Charlottesville Police Department decided to act, issuing 12 tickets for minor traffic violations.

According to Citizens Against Global Exploitation member Andrew Holden, '3 squad cars and the paddy wagon and at least 7 police came out to harrass the living wage demonstrators at the Marriott hotel ... Police ticketed 4 autos for "excessive honking" under an obscure, selectively enforced traffic ordinance. They determine what is "excessive."' (Andrew Holden, electronic mail, July 27, 2001).

According to a recent article in the Daily Progress, "Timothy J. Longo, the city's police chief, said police have received complaints ... but that the incident at the Omni "escalated" the stakes.

He also said police had been asked to provide security Friday around the Marriott because country star LeAnn Rimes, who is slated to perform in Nelson County tonight, was staying there Friday" (Adrienne Schwisow, The Daily Progress, July 28, 2001).

According to Andrew Holden, "The Marriott general manager stood and conferred with police. It is worth mentioning that the Marriott's security officer is also a policeman. These bullies shut down our protest" (Andrew Holden, electronic mail, July 27, 2001).

However, police chief Longo justified the police action on the basis of public safety and preserving the peace.

"'I will do everything in my power to preserve their constitutional right to free speech,' Longo said of the protesters. 'What I will not do is tolerate activity that has the potential to create disorder. First, excessive honking is against the law; second, it has the potential to jeopardize public safety.'

'What if someone slammed on his brakes because of honking and God forbid, someone got hurt? Then what? Our job is to preserve the peace,' Longo said" (Adrienne Schwisow, The Daily Progress, July 28, 2001).

So what do you think?

Should the Charlottesville Police Department be in the business of preventing activity which has the potential for creating disorder and jeopardizing public safety? If so, how and where do you draw the line?

In the case of the horn-honkers, do you believe the police department is looking out for the common good or exercizing prior restraint?

Acknowledging that Section 46.2-1060 of the Virginia Code says that it is illegal "to use a horn otherwise than as a reasonable warning," would you consider honking for a 'liveable wage' to be a "reasonable warning"?

If horn-blowing is tolerated for weeks and weeks, are the police justified in giving tickets without warning to the tooters? Is this a case of "selective enforcement"?

How do you balance the inconvenience of horn-honking with free speech?

Send your thoughts to george@loper.org where the most representative comments will be posted on my web site with full attribution.