Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Pennsylvania

Giving the bird.....Is that a crime?

While driving my car at the Airport a police officer jumped in front of my car waving his hands like he was trying to take off! I Stopped my car thinking I left a child on the roof or something, only to find out that he felt I was driving to fast. I was so aggrevated at this point that I flipped him off. To my surprise (not) in the mail I received a $185.00 ticket! Isn't flipping a cop off considered freedom of speech? I certainly didn't feel that it was worth $185. I thought that this was America and that we had freedom of speech and expression, which in my opinion I was being very free with the cop despite his charge.


Asked on 10/11/03, 9:16 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Stanley Fudor Law Offices of Stanley Fudor

Re: Giving the bird.....Is that a crime?

What was the charge on the citation?

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Answered on 10/11/03, 11:58 pm
John Lemmon Law Office of John Lemmon

Re: Giving the bird.....Is that a crime?

In Pennsylvania, making an obscene gesture in a public place can constitute disorderly conduct. Although there are occassions when disorderly conduct will raise to the level of a third degree misdemeanor, disorderly conduct is normally a summary offense. So, yes, you can get a ticket for giving the bird to a cop in an airport.

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Answered on 10/17/03, 11:32 pm


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