First Amendment
Critics Believe S.C. ‘I Believe’ License Plate Violates Constitution
Two groups are considering a lawsuit over South Carolina’s decision to offer drivers a license plate with a cross and the phrase “I believe.”
The state passed a bill authorizing the plates on May 22, and it became law without the signature of Gov. Mark Sanford, the New York Times reports.
He told the state to charge drivers who want the plate just enough to cover the cost of making it. No organization will benefit from the sales, unlike sponsors of other specialty plates such as the Boy Scouts and colleges.
Critics say the plate amounts to an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. The American Civil Liberties Union and the American Jewish Congress were considering a suit.
