Young man allegedly tells Maine cop burning rubber is free speech, cites satirical news site

[jpak]

https://bangordailynews.com/2018/04/03/news/central-maine/young-man-allegedly-tells-maine-cop-burning-rubber-is-free-speech-cites-satirical-news-site/

An Oakland police officer said he got a laugh when a local allegedly cited a satirical news website as a defense after getting pulled over.

“While heading up towards one of our schools in the distinctive black and white cruiser I see a young man I’m familiar with in a souped up truck,” wrote Sgt. Tracey Frost, a school resource officer, in a post on the department’s Facebook page. “We make eye contact, and then he proceeds to spin his tires. This makes that familiar screech and smoke that just makes my skin crawl.”

Frost pulled the alleged perpetrator over, but wrote that “the young man proudly exclaim[ed] ‘You can’t do anything about it anymore.’

“He then goes on to explain to me that the Maine Supreme Court ruled yesterday that burning your tires is now protected free speech,” Frost continued, in part. “He goes on to explain that it was on the news, and internet.”

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[lunasun]

1. He learnt it on the internet!

[jpak]

2. Yup

https://newmainenews.com/2018/03/27/maine-supreme-court-rules-rubber-marks-constitutionally-protected-speech/

Portland — Not only does a super-buggy bake-up leave a literal mark, or ideally, two, it’s now protected under Maine’s right to free speech.

In a rare unanimous decision, the Maine Supreme Court ruled peeling-out is a form of free expression.

In her remarks, Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley said the court finds laying rubber a way to give “a voice to the voiceless.”

“What good is a huge truck? What good are fat tires, a screaming exhaust set up, and a killer big block if all that power can’t be used to make a statement?”

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[sl8]

3. Bury the lede, why don't you:

Example given in your cited article:

Line Between Real and Fake Maine News Increasingly Blurred Says Magic 8-foot Tall Talking Lobster
January 7, 2018

Jonesport — According to “Ol’ Nick,” the 8-foot tall flying lobster who wears Ray-ban sunglasses, more and more intentionally fake and satirical news is being taken as fact.

“People see a headline, or a link, and it confirms something they want to believe is true, so they share it as fact,” Ol’ Nick said between bites of rotting halibut.

Nick, who has lived in Maine since a wizard cursed him with both the capacity for intelligence, and immortality, in 1605, doesn’t see things changing anytime soon.

“People love a good yarn, but they love it even more when something absurd or ridiculous turns out to be true. Take the Gorilla Channel for example.”

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