Is Profanity on Cars Illegal in Louisiana?

LAFAYETTE, La. (KMDL-FM) - Look, I'm no prude. I don't have the "cleanest" of mouths and don't get easily offended by what others do. But, when it comes to public displays of profanity, I have to draw the line.

What I Saw on the Way to Work

Here's the backstory. I was on my way to work this morning a little before 4:00 a.m. and I was stopped at a traffic light when I noticed some LED lights displaying some type of characters onto the back glass of the car in front of me. It caught my attention, but it's what I noticed after that really got me a bit perturbed.

This rolling light display proceeded to flash the following words: "F**K YOU!!!" along with a middle finger emoji. (I'm not typing the full word here, but it was explicitly displayed on the back glass.) Additionally, the car's license plate frame had the same words on it. Must be this person's "thing" or something.

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Again, I'm no moral crusader that gets their proverbial panties in a wad over every little thing, but this is just a bit much for public display in my opinion. I think of kids just learning to read who are in the back seat of their parent's car when they pull up behind this jackwagon and start sounding out those words. A lesson in linguistics that a parent is probably not ready to teach their kid.

This whole experience also got me to thinking, "Is this legal in Louisiana?" The short answer is no, but I'm not sure anyone will do anything about it.

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What Louisiana Law Says About Obscene Vehicle Displays

In Louisiana, it is generally illegal to display profanity on your car if it falls under the legal definition of "obscene" and is visible to the public. Louisiana Revised Statute R.S. 32:378.1 prohibits affixing stickers, decals, or emblems containing "patently obscene words, photographs, or depictions" to motor vehicles.

A violation of this statute can result in a fine of up to $100 upon conviction. If the violation occurs in a school zone or highway construction zone, it may be treated more severely.

What Counts as “Obscene” Under State Law?

But, will cops do anything if they see this vehicle on the streets? I'm not sure. Some states have tried to regulate profanity such as this and the argument of protected or free speech wins out.

Why Enforcement of Profanity Laws Is Rare

For example, a few years ago, an officer in Florida stopped a man for having a bumper sticker that read, "I eat (expletive)." The officer asked the driver to remove the sticker because it was obscene. The driver refused, was arrested, and his vehicle was towed.

Prosecutors declined to press charges, and the man sued the officer for violating his civil rights. The lawsuit was dismissed.

Given examples like that, it's probably not worth an officer's time and effort to enforce this law. I get that. I just wish common sense would prevail sometimes amongst humans and we act accordingly.