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Bill May Clip Truck Testicles
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Published: April 18, 2008
Updated: 04/18/2008 12:14 am
TALLAHASSEE - A discussion in the Senate on Thursday turned a bit, um, testy, over an issue that this usually august body rarely has occasion to discuss: replica bull testicles hanging from vehicles.
In some parts of Florida it has become fashionable to attach the reproductions to the back of pickups, and at least one person, Sen. Carey Baker, is offended.
Baker is sponsoring an amendment that would allow police to give drivers a $60 ticket if they had the object hanging from a vehicle. The amendment was added to a bill Thursday after an awkward discussion in which the Senate tried to debate the issue without being too graphic - with several schoolchildren watching from the galleries.
The provision was attached to a highway safety bill (SB 1992), but earlier this week there was an effort to take the language out of the bill. The discussion got a bit graphic, and Senate President Ken Pruitt told members that if the issue were going to come up again he wanted the discussion a bit more refined.
So Thursday, several senators tread gingerly as they discussed "glands" that would no longer be allowed on cars.
But despite a few snickers about a proposal some say is nuts, several lawmakers noted the issue is serious: When is something offensive enough - and who decides what's offensive - for the government to tell someone they can't display it?
"I don't think this is frivolous," said Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville. "It's someone making a determination that they thought it was either obscene or vulgar or whatever, and therein lies the problem."
Sen. Steve Geller, D-Cooper City, agreed.
"I find it shocking that we should be telling people that have the metallic bull testicles ... you're now going to have points on your license for this," Geller said. He wondered whether the next step might be to try to ban a popular bumper sticker that shows the Calvin character from the "Calvin and Hobbes" comic strip urinating on something.
Baker, R-Eustis, agreed that "it is a gray area" when the state starts telling people what they can and can't "express" on their car.
And Baker did agree to remove language from his original amendment that would have allowed police broader power to issue tickets for any obscene car adornment. However, Baker said, the testicles are obscene.
If the ban were to become law and it were challenged, it would be up to a judge to decide whether the state had an interest in banning the decoration that outweighed someone's right to expression.
"If somebody cared enough about their desire to have old testicles on their car, they could mount a pretty good challenge," said a bemused Floyd Abrams, one of the nation's top lawyers specializing in freedom of speech issues.
The proposal may not hang around for long - the House doesn't have the issue in its highway safety bill.
Baker admitted he had more serious issues to deal with this session, but he said that if the state does not draw a line on what is obscene, even more objectionable car adornments might appear.
King actually had some of the bull "glands" on his truck - until his wife ordered them removed.
"I have a Suburban that is all pimped out," said King, 68. He ordered the replica bull parts from somewhere in Tennessee and put them on. "It is a boss truck," King said. But every time his wife would drive to the store, "people were driving by her and honking at the bull glands."
A final vote on the bill in the Senate could come as early as next week.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( Claylisa ) on April 18, 2008 at 12:29 a.m.
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Posted by ( Claylisa ) on April 18, 2008 at 12:32 a.m.
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Posted by ( dapex ) on April 18, 2008 at 12:36 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Great article! I sent it to my out of state friends to show what a bunch of dumb asses there are here - both the jerks who hang them and the legislators who want to outlaw them.
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Posted by ( nataS ) on April 18, 2008 at 12:51 a.m.
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Posted by ( tparich ) on April 18, 2008 at 1:13 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Loved the article!
And these guys are getting paid for this?
What a joke!
Sen. Carey Baker is a joke!
Humm... I'm offended by mud flaps with silhouettes of naked women. Can we outlaw them?
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Posted by ( tparich ) on April 18, 2008 at 1:26 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
email: carey@careybaker.us
Tallahassee Office Phone: 850 487-5014
District Office Phone: 352 742-6490
Fax: 352 742-6492
I think we should all let Carey Baker know how sorry we are that he is offended (and more).
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Posted by ( mprice12 ) on April 18, 2008 at 1:28 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I'm glad our lawmakers are taking the time to make sure we don't see hanging bull test*cles or people engaged in intercourse with animals. I've really noticed that these things have become SUCH A PROBLEM lately. A sure sign our political system is screwed up.. the economy, fuel prices, war in Iraq, etc.. but instead of worrying about important stuffs lets do things that get a ton of attention and LOTS of distraction from the real issues.
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Posted by ( tparich ) on April 18, 2008 at 1:53 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I just sent an email to the address listed on Baker's web site (http://www.careybaker.us/contact.html)
and it was rejected as invalid.
He posts a bogus email address on his web site!? What does that say about the guy?
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Posted by ( RobKay ) on April 18, 2008 at 2:37 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
My God, do these people in Tallahassee really have so little to do that they can find time to even think about this? Is there anyone out here who actually voted for one of these legislators so they could address this problem? Is there anyone out here who even thinks this problem is a problem? Some people have more class than others, so what? "Dear legislators, please do something that matters for a change!" Oh one more. "I'm personally offended by any vehicle that gets less than 20 miles per gallon. Please make driving any of them on state roads illegal."
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Posted by ( dzeien ) on April 18, 2008 at 5:30 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
This guy has not had one of those TRAIN WHISLTE's comming from the car next to him yet. Wait until that happens.
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Posted by ( June30 ) on April 18, 2008 at 5:54 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
It's all fun and games until you have to explain it to your 7 year old daughter.
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Posted by ( Bob2 ) on April 18, 2008 at 6:07 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Posted by ( June30 ) on April 18, 2008 at 5:54 a.m.
"It's all fun and games until you have to explain it to your 7 year old daughter."
There's always been a half joking theory that guys with 12" lift kits on their trucks are trying to compensate for something they lack. I guess the good 'ol boys adding these "glands" are just trying to remove any doubt.
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Posted by ( welshiesdad ) on April 18, 2008 at 6:13 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
We should remember for anyone who would put these on the back of their vehicle that the testicles aren't too far physically from an important digestive orifice. That also would be suitable to describe the driver.
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Posted by ( news_fan_pam ) on April 18, 2008 at 6:24 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I saw these things on a BMW the other day and I was highly offended! Why would someone do that to such a nice car?
If this isn't an example of why we need to educate ourselves and vote, I don't know what is.
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Posted by ( maryz ) on April 18, 2008 at 6:50 a.m.
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Posted by ( zteam55 ) on April 18, 2008 at 6:55 a.m.
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Posted by ( brobeth1 ) on April 18, 2008 at 7:15 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hell! I need to get out more! This is the first I've heard about this.
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Posted by ( Coast2Coast ) on April 18, 2008 at 7:17 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I better run out and remove the utters from my truck...lol
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Posted by ( jandpbell ) on April 18, 2008 at 7:20 a.m.
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Posted by ( bigpete ) on April 18, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I personaly think its stupid. I will admit I did chuckle the first time I saw some hanging from a pickup truck. June30 you really don't have to say anything to your daughter 7 yrs old but that its part of a hitch or something. This is not something I want my tax dollars working on. It really is not that graffic until they go BLUE. (LOL)
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Posted by ( JackNelsonSteward ) on April 18, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Well, I posted this in the "Tallahassee" section but, what the hey .....
Yeah, I'm not wild about the little Calvin characters, either.
Who you gotta be to have to hang dem, uh ... "bells" there on your truck? What's the point? If you gotta announce it, you probably ain't GOT it.
It's like those decals on the big ol' stilt pickups, what is it .."Haulin' Weight!"? Do you know how ridiculous those look to a guy driving, say, a thirty five ton concrete mixer?
Weight!!?? Puh LEEEEZE!
Legislation?! naaawww, I don't think so.
These, uh, "hangers" are in the same category as the droopy drawers, aren't they? They say more about the mentality of the "wearer" than anything else.
OH! I got it ... we pass a law that you can have'em, but you have to put'em in an appropriately designed "supporter!" Say a little knitted, uh, sack? All nice and cozy and all, and you can have your "pelotas" and granny can display her knitting prowess right there on the highway!
THERE ya go!!
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Posted by ( ad ) on April 18, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is the secret sign for the group of "straight" guys in the locker room who "cruise" the other guys and than cover their "secret" by telling an anti-gay joke.
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Posted by ( BrassBowldotOrg ) on April 18, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
That's funny, ad. Makes sense. Wait till I tell my neighbor, he has some hanging from his pickup.
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Posted by ( hmmm ) on April 18, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
While they are at it...maybe they could work on legislating when those darn Clydesdales at Busch Garden pee, now that is obscene!
C'mon lawmakers - stop wasting our money of frivolous garbage for the sake of "morality". Governing morality is always a lost cause - ie. Prohibition - yeah, that was a success!
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Posted by ( gina1108 ) on April 18, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I love when the govt thinks its okay for them to tell us what we should find offensive.
Personally, I think they are a stupid waste of space, but if people want to show how much of a redneck they are...More power to them.
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Posted by ( Garryowen ) on April 18, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Wait a minute...wait a minute. Why not just require that the 'nads' wear a set of Speedos? That way, they would be as aesthetically pleasing as the snowbirds I see at the beach all the time.
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Posted by ( Quagmire ) on April 18, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hey those aren't bull Testicles hanging from my truck, they're rocky mountain oysters.
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Posted by ( URY914 ) on April 18, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
If the drivers can't seem to grow up so pass a law and give them a ticket.
Stupid Rednecks. Let's pass a law on mullets too. Than the cop can give out two tickets with one stop.
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Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on April 18, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hey those aren't bull Testicles hanging from my truck, they're die-cast reproductions of my own set...........
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Posted by ( Jesse_Z_Girl ) on April 18, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Why are these senators wasting our time & especially our money on this ridiculous legislation. Talk about out of touch!!!!
If some idiot wants to display something like that on their car or truck - who cares, at least they are wearing their "sign".
And to the lady who doesn't want to explain it to her 7 year old - it's your job as a parent to explain everything to your kids - even if it's uncomfortable. Lame excuse.
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Posted by ( GF ) on April 18, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Jeez, there are festivals where they cook and eat these things, kids running everywhere. Would anybody be ticked if I hung a rack of ribs from my bumper? Hey Tallahassee, what about my homeowners insurance? Apparently there are no rocky mountain oyster lobbyists.
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Posted by ( SaveFerris ) on April 18, 2008 at 9:52 a.m.
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Posted by ( Claylisa ) on April 18, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
GF, homeowner insurance will be addressed much later on the docket...right after, sagging pants, and animal sex....
...quit being so impatient.
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Posted by ( TylerDurden ) on April 18, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
My truck now wears boxers. Wasn't aware my hang-down was scare'n yuns or your wife & kids. Pardon the package, it won't happen again.
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Posted by ( HappyNot ) on April 18, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Weren't these first displayed by University of Georgia fans as a reference to their beloved saggy scrotumed bull dog Ugga?
Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, grow a pair or ask Mrs. King to give yours back. (I bet he pees sitting down.)
This is why Florida has so many other problems. Lobby groups make the important decisions and the elected official is left trying to come up with something worthy of a press clipping. Remember, if politicians had a valuable private sector service to offer, they would be employed elsewhere.
If your child asks what they are, be honest. Be glad your kid hasn’t seen the bumper sticker reading “Good girls swallow”. Try explaining that one.
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Posted by ( tparich ) on April 18, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Here is an email address for Baker that works:
baker.carey.web@flsenate.gov
Copy your comments and paste them into an email for Mr Baker
Stop the foolishness.
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Posted by ( Claylisa ) on April 18, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Your persistence is admirable, tparich.
Thanks I am emailing the testicle obsessed senator right now....
Good lookin' out on his email.
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Posted by ( JMEVG ) on April 18, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
STOP, STOP, STOP, PLEASE TELL ME THAT THIS STATE IS IN SUCH FINE FINANCIAL CONDITION THAT WE HAVE THE TIME AND MONEY TO SPEND ON THIS, THEY ARE ANIMAL PATS YOU CAN SEE IN ANY FARM FIELD ANYTIME YOU WANT,, PLEASE SHOW US SOME OF THE INTELLIGIENCE WE THOUGHT YOU HAD WHEN WE ELECTED YOU AND FIX SOMEHTING THAT IS TRULY BROKEN OR FINISH CONVINCING ME TO MOVE ELSEWHERE WHEN I RETIRE, THANK YOU FOR A BELLY LAUGH I NEEDED BECASUE YOU GUYS MUST BE HAVING A LATE APRIL FOOLS JOKE ON US RIGHT?
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Posted by ( MamaMagic ) on April 20, 2008 at 12:47 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
HappyNot: I don't know about Ugga's saggy sac, but the rest of your comments are right on target.
JMEVG: your post summed up my feelings on the issue so well, I forwarded it to Sen. Baker.
Thanks to both of you.
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