Jesus License Plate In Florida Causes Controversy (VIDEO)

A Florida program which allows you to design custom license plates is set to get another two designs that are already causing controversy. The two new designs are Christian-themed, one featuring a cross in front a stained-glass window and the other an image of Jesus Christ in a position that most resembles him on the cross.

A similar bill has passed in South Carolina, but a federal judge has halted production while the constitutionality of the license plates is adjudicated.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist was asked about whether this crosses a church/state separation line. He responded, "If they don't want one they don't have to buy one."

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[kjstjohn]

Wow, that is crass.

[olmossy]

That would be Florida State Official Chamber of Commerce, 850-521-1200,
[e-mail]
REMEMBER Florida is a TOURIST State, They don't want to discourage you from visiting. !!
HELP!!

[olmossy]

Don't bet this won't happen, "Choose Life" plates are a fact of life in Fla. and as far is I know there are no "Right to Choose" plates.
Fla. is like a lot of states, the Republicans cannot win without the Old South bible thumpers.
If you lived in Florida you would be amazed to see that things like this are all it takes to get these people's vote.
You can cut taxes on the rich and big businesses . And then cut services to the average floridian, but if you back drival like this and throw in a few " before THEY kicked jesus out of school" in a speech or two , these folks will back you to the hilt.
Do Me And Floridians a faver
E-Mail or call the Florida Chamber OF Commerce, tell them you WON"T be vacationing in FLORIDA
this year because your are AFRAID of Super Christian Highway Patrolman if you don't have a Christian tag. PLEASE

[rottnkid]

Wait till the Jews ask for the Star of David and me for Malcom X..That license plate is going to start some ish.....

[Budh]

Great idea. How about Zues, Hira , Opollo, Buddha, Krishna and other Gods one can think of. And while we are at it why leave the Anti Christ, Satan, Hitler, Grendle, Maphistafolus, Sadam Hussain, and even George Bush he is a devil incarnate also.

[harriettubman]

When I lived in NJ you couldn't put anything on license plates like this. Not even the word *s*at*an and I'm so glad. States have to be very careful because this opens up the door for anything. In IL you can put any asinine thing on a license plate you want!!!

[Peter007]

In New Jersey and most states, there can not be any display of a political message on the plates. I think a religious message is also considered a political message.
The license is required and it is issued by the government. The intent of the license plate is clearly to promote Jesus as some type of God. There could be no other reason. This is a blatant attempt to establish a legitimate religion.

[rektruax]

I lived in Michigan for years, and every year or so I'd tag another vehicle and every time I'd go in there I asked for the plain blue tag. They'd try to sell a collegiate, or sunset or UAW tag, but I'd say no...

Just a plain tag please. People who use their vehicle to "express themselves" are kinda sad.

[Budh]

Hey, after all it is Florida and it has a Republican Governor to boot. May be he wants to run for president .

[WakeUpAmerica08]

"If they don't want one they don't have to buy one."

Now... USE THAT SAME CONCEPT WHEN IT COMES TO ABORTION...

"IF YOU ARE AGAINST IT... YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ONE"!!!

[yourbackpacker]

You people just say , if you don't want one don't have to buy one. What is that?

I am not a christian and I am offend by this stupid Jesus licence plate Florida State proposed. Because it is disrespect to Jesus.

People buy this Jesus plate to use it as a charm to protect them from accident or some thing.

What happen to the plate with Jesus image on it when there is a car collision that will destroy his image. Didn't Jesus suffer enough for all the mere mortals ?

[helpusa]

Charlie Crist is wrong. I may have to be behind this car with the Jesus license plate that will offend me!!
It would also offend me if it was a Star of David, or a anything else, or any other religion's symbol. THIS IS A HORRIBLE IDEA.

[Peter007]

Its not wrong because it offends you. Its perfectly legal to "offend" people. That's protected speech. The government cannot be involved in promoting a religion. Jesus is a religion.

[Yamunation]

Does every single other religion have the chance to get a license plate for themselves too?

[PepperzMom]

Only if every religion practiced in the state has its representative image/symbol also. That includes wicca, voodoo, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, etc...

JMO.

[Ivar]

Der ain't no nuse in being igornant lessen you can show it ya hea?Fla is not the brightest star in our crown.

[citizensrus]

Crucified Jesus on the State License Plate for Florida can not be good for tourism.
I'm Christian, but this just makes me want to stay away from Florida for vacation. It just says EXTREME..to me.

[201curzonst]

It trivializes the crucifixion.

[olmossy]

I think a nice scene from the inquissition, or some poor person being executed in Salem Mass. would show more of the real christianity.

[SmallChange]

I've said this before and I'll say it again, these license plates are sacriligious as are the faithless people who have to constantly talk about their faith. You try to live in faith you don't talk about it !!
It is in actions not words that are the real word.

[Budh]

Small Change you are not. You are great.

[GoldStarMom]

I lived in Florida for several years, and have family still living there. So, I'm aware of the fact that Florida only issues one license plate, which is mounted on the back of the vehicle.

Therefore, any "decorative" plate desired can be mounted on the front. In fact, there are businesses that do nothing else but create vacuformed plastic plates for this purpose. They'll even custom design one for you if you're willing to pay the set up fee, or if they feel there would be enough of a demand for such a plate. Why not simply purchase one of those plates, rather than getting everyone embroiled in deciding on the legality of a particular plate?

That said, I do feel that the plate in question at the very least blurs the line of separation of church & state. If this plate is permitted, I might just be forced to move back there, simply to push for a Cthulhu plate. Not because I worship or advocate Discordianism, but just on general principles. Plus the character of "Davey Jones" in the second "Pirates of the Caribbean" bears a striking resemblence to him.

[olmossy]

I'm sure there are tags on the rear that say "choose life" and I believe other messages.
these aren't just decrative tags on the front.

[Owltree]

There are *112* specialty plates issued by the state of Florida, more than any other state. For a list of them, go here:
http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/specialtytags/
They are mounted on the *BACK* of the vehicle, and replace of the regulation standard Florida license plate. People wishing to buy one must pay an extra cost, with part of the funds going to the organization whose cause is espoused on the plate. There is currently a specialty Florida "Right to Life" plate that has the slogan, "Choose Life" and a logo emblazoned on it. A "Pro-Choice" group is currently trying to get a license plate approved. In order for a specialty license plate to be approved and go into production, a group must pay $75,000.00 and submit a petition with the signatures of 30,000 registered, licensed drivers who sign vowing to purchase one of the plates once it goes into production. Law enforcement officers are opposed to these plates for the most part because it is difficult to ascertain the origin of the plate since all of them look different, and can only be identified as being issued by the state of Florida upon close inspection. I work for the state of Florida (but please don't hold that against me), and my family has lived in Florida since 1828. In all that time we've not been able to escape.

[SezU]

There are so many variations that soon you won't be able to tell which license plate is legitimate or not.

[richdibo]

How tacky. Why put an image of Jesus on a license plate when he already looks so good on red velvet -- like Elvis and the dogs playing cards. Floridians just have no taste.