AggieDave 6 #1 October 16, 2003 Its now perfectly legal in Texas to flip the bird in traffic. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=817&e=8&u=/ap/rude_gesture QuoteTexas Court Overturns Gesture Conviction Wed Oct 15, 2:43 PM ET Add Strange News - AP to My Yahoo! HOUSTON - Giving a fellow motorist the finger may be rude, but it's not necessarily a crime, an appeals court said in throwing out a man's conviction. Robert Lee Coggin, 34, was charged under an obscure state law that says it's a crime — disorderly conduct — to make an offensive gesture in a public place if it "tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace." Last year, a jury found him guilty of disorderly conduct. He was fined $250. In its ruling issued last Thursday, the 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin said that Coggin's gesture was crude, but evidence did not establish it could cause an immediate breach of the peace. It ordered that he be acquitted. "It vindicates me," Coggin told the Houston Chronicle for Wednesday's editions. He has denied making the gesture, and spent $15,000 in legal fees to fight the conviction. According to court records, in October 2001, Coggin was tailgating a car in Caldwell County, flashing his lights and motioning for the driver to move to the right lane. When the driver, John Pastrano, pulled over, Coggin allegedly raised his middle finger while passing. Pastrano — who, as it happens, was a Caldwell County jailer — called 911, and Coggin was cited by police. In a dissenting opinion, Chief Justice Kenneth Law wrote that "one must ignore the reality of modern life to not recognize that many instances of `road rage' begin in such a manner." Calls seeking further comment placed to Coggin's lawyer, Donald T. Cheatham, and to Pastrano were not immediately returned Wednesday. --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #2 October 16, 2003 Hey dave.... I got sumtin for ya...I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lummy 4 #3 October 16, 2003 good thing he spent the 15 grand to beat the $250 fine.... I know I know. it was the principle...I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. eat sushi, get smoochieTTK#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aero04 0 #4 October 16, 2003 Cool!!! When I pass you on the road, I'll give you the good ole one finger wave! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casie 0 #5 October 16, 2003 I never new it wasn't legal...........damn where have I been????~Porn Kitty WARNING: Goldschlager causes extreme emotional outbursts! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
usedtajump 1 #6 October 16, 2003 Just another way to make our legal system look more rediculous and I find it all the more rediculous that his attorney is named CheathamThe older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,125 #7 October 16, 2003 > . . .I find it all the more rediculous that his attorney is named Cheatham. Don't the Car Talk guys have Dewey, Cheatham and Howe as their attorneys? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #8 October 17, 2003 Quote Don't the Car Talk guys have Dewey, Cheatham and Howe as their attorneys? Love that show! Haven't listened to it for years, though. Is it still on Saturday mornings on KNPR? ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
