Document: 334 U.S. 558 68 S.Ct. 1148 92 L.Ed. 1574 SAIAv.PEOPLE OF STATE NEW YORK. No. 504. Argued and Submitted March 30, 1948. Decided June 7, Appeal from the Court of Appeals State New York. Mr. Hayden C. Covington, Brooklyn, N.Y., for appellant. Alan V. Parker, Niagara Falls, appellee. Justice DOUGLAS delivered opinion Court. 1 This case presents question validity under Fourteenth Amendment a penal ordinance City Lockport, York, which forbids use sound amplification devices except with permission Chief Police.1 2 Appellant is minister religious sect known as Jehovah's Witnesses. He obtained Police to equipment, mounted atop his car, amplify lectures on subjects. The were given at fixed place in public park designated Sundays. When this permit expired, he applied another one but was refused ground that complaints had been made. nevertheless used equipment planned four occasions, without permit. tried violations ordinance. It undisputed speeches they Some witnesses testified annoyed by sound, though not content addresses; others disturbed either. court upheld against contention i violated appellant's rights freedom speech, assembly, worship Federal Constitution. Fines jail sentences imposed. His convictions affirmed County York Appeals, 297 N.Y. 659, 76 N.E.2d 323. here appeal. 3 We hold § unconstitutional its face, it establishes previous restraint right free speech violation First protected action. To loud-speaker or amplifier has get Police. There are no standards prescribed exercise discretion. statute narrowly drawn regulate hours places loud-speakers, volume (the decibels) must be adjusted. therefore all vices ones we struck down Cantwell v. Connecticut, 310 296, 60 900, 84 1213, 128 A.L.R. 1352; Lovell Griffin, 303 444, 58 666, 82 949; Hague C.I.O., 307 496, 59 954, 83 1423. 4 In license order distribute literature. What left discretion official. held judicial review rectify abuses licensing system did save condemnation grounds restraint. supra, void face an requiring distribution That ordinance, like present one, dressed garb control 'nuisance.' But made short shrift argument, saying approval would institute censorship 'in baldest form.' city required local official assembly streets highways parks buildings. empowered refuse if refusal prevent 'riots, disturbances disorderly assemblage.' because could 'the instrument arbitrary suppression expression views national affairs.' page 516, 964, 5 same defects. heard placed uncontrolled stands athwart channels communication obstruction can removed only after criminal trial conviction lengthy A more effective difficult imagine. Unless retreat firm positions have taken past, give preferred treatment gave religion case, press Griffin case.2 6 Loud-speakers today indispensable instruments speech. truck become accepted method political campaigning. way people reached. Must candidate governor Congress depend whim caprice campaigning? prove satisfaction noise will annoying people? 7 dangerous weapon allowed our life. Noise regulated regulating decibels. discussion controlled. allow police bar loud-speakers their abused barring radio receivers too make noise. need power deny man protect neighbor sleepless nights true here. 8 Any create controlled statutes. allows ban them discretion, sanctions device ideas. denied some persons said found annoying. next may find ideas Annoyance cloaked annoyance sound. inherent type reveals vice. 9 Courts balance various community interests passing constitutionality regulations character involved process should mindful keep freedoms position. See Marsh Alabama, 326 501, 509, 66 276, 280, 90 265. 10 Reversed. 11 FRANKFURTER, whom REED BURTON concur, dissenting. 12 loud speakers blared forth small city.1 about 1,600 feet long 250 400 wide. primarily recreation, containing benches, picnic athletic facilities, children's wading pool playground. Estimates range varied 200 600 feet. attention large fraction area thus commanded. 13 native human interfere little self-protection those who do wish listen. They easily move beyond earshot, just choose read bludgeoned undesired reading matter. And so utterances pen neither forbidden nor licensed, familiar classes exceptional situations. CIO, 1423; Schneider Irvington, 308 147, 146, 155; Chaplinsky Hampshire, 315 568, 62 766, 86 1031. modern amplifying voice, recording, afford easy, opportunities aural aggression. If uncontrolled, result intrusion into cherished privacy. refreshment mere silence, meditai on, quiet conversation, precluded one's personal control. 14 Municipalities conscientiously sought deal new problems rise devised methods life endurable. McIntyre Rhyne, Radio Municipal Regulations (National Institute Law Officers, Report 62, 1940) pp. 28 et seq. Surely there constitutional force unwilling Cf. Otto, Speech Freedom Speech, Experience (Edited Hook Konvitz, 1947) 78, I cannot agree these broadcasting safeguard assailed intrusive put mind uses own choice. 15 Coming facts immediate situation, say limits appellant time requested. entitled authorize authorities Lockport determine well-being inhabitants other pleasures affords, outweighed message upon them. Nor exceed bounds reason chief base decision refusing fact manner past distructive enjoyment maintained. complained seem pretty solid basis experience sanctioning continuance. 16 Very different considerations come play when subjected whereby minor determines whether cause religious. problem presented 1352, course 'Such means determining survive denial liberty included within protection Fourteenth.' 305, 904, 1352. is, not, 'religious' opens up wide field judgment As allowable regarding scope 'religion,' see Judge Augustus N. Hand United States Kauten, Cir., 133 F.2d 703, 708. matter before us quite order. vest determination what effect nuisance merely such authority outrageously misused trying stifle meretricious cloak nuisance. Judicial remedies available abuse authority, courts, including Court, exist enforce remedies. 17 Even limit exercised partiality unrelated showing either action discrimination. finding noisemakers similar Reference testimony Lutheran services nearby ballfield. ballfield outside audience, nothing record show Lutherans park, Lehon Atlanta, 242 53, 37 70, 61 145. hypothetically unconstitutional. ex rel. Hatch Reardon, 204 152, 27 188, 51 41, Ann.Cas. 736. 18 men whose labors brought Constitution street Independence Hall covered earth deliberations might traffic. Our democracy presupposes deliberative condition thought responsible choice electorate. Founding Fathers hardly proof progress development blare trucks treated necessary medium process. any event, startle learn extent Union, arbitrarily discriminatorily exercised, satisfy thinks desirable exercising 19 dealing technological attempts gain benefits while maintaining precious These attempts, being experimental, bound tentative, expressed directed towards circumstances case. Suffice limitations utterance my view accommodation between conflicting circumstances. Cox 312 569, 762, 85 1049, 1396. 20 JACKSON, 21 dissent decision, seems me judicious endanger great making ridiculous obnoxious, than menaces loud-speakers. Let state omits: 22 owns maintains acres dedicated deed 'Park purposes exclusively'. scene therein set apart people's recreation. provided tables, fireplaces parties, playground children, facilities games horseshoe pitching, bowling baseball. 23 appellant, Witnesses, contends, holds, flood amplified remembered demands even speak meeting reserved inconsistent purposes. located mounted, itself, open vehicles, close by. microphone speaker distance car electric wires strung, instances apparently across sidewalk, other. So holding, require private person erect, streets, places, temporary address system, certainly potentialities injury patrons carelessly handled. setting microphone, permit, convicted—it speaking. 24 astonishing news prohibits municipality policing, controlling forbidding erection party park. Certainly precautions operation appropriate, think duty supervising premises. very appropriate supervision inform city's officers apparatusi installed startling perversion wrests away states subdivisions property prohibit irresponsible introduction contrivances sort places. 25 however, ignores aspects grow out appliances, microphones property, distinguish cases cited authority. treats issue issue.1 restricted use, nature endowed appeliant. interfered inviting assemblage space aside purpose.2 society apparatus which, unregulated proselyting, propaganda commercial uses, render unbearable? intimated decibels; so, why prescribe zero decibels places? control, place, volume, loud-speaking purpose, unduly arbitrary, capricious discriminatory. 26 points propagation avowed purpose holds stop systems purpose. teaching, still decision. Only few weeks ago using taxsupported 'to aid groups spread faith.' People Illinois McCollum Board Education, 333 203, 461, 464. Today compels let appropriated school uses; equipped recreational allocate installations appeals obnoxious many thereby deprive properly aside. how day forbid compel tax-supported help faith. slightest evidence discrimination prejudice resident Buffalo, way, granted successive Sundays during summer question. application second series climate three months weather adaptable use. 256 recognized denominations populace supports these, apparent Witnesses share Sunday fair allocation among denominations. denomination ever permitted meetings or, matter, recreation area. appears ball also property. grandstand bleachers, surrounded fence six high. indication terms Lutherans. evident, want enclosed spot wanted hear resort. thrust conduct invades persons' privacy and, lead riots disorder. 29 expresses concern lest candidates be. does worry me. ought irresponsibly sorts regard tactful campaigning themselves picnicking families message. over concerned danger candidacies when, if, arises. 30 delegate am unable judge itself permits sound-amplifying apparatus. suggested fathers sufficien guidance suppose function council revision. done deprived right. law review, abstract, academic questions raise doubtful 31 disagree entirely idea 'Courts here.' communities interests—that politics—and courts of. apply limitations. 32 repeat words Holmes, disregarded less heeded now: 33 'I yet adequately anxiety feel increasing cutting believe States. decisions now stand, sky invalidating happen strike majority unlesirable. intended carte blanche embody economic moral beliefs prohibitions.'3 34 civil liberties Hughes, writing unanimous Court: 35 'Civil liberties, guaranteed Constitution, imply existence organized lost excesses unrestrained abuses.'4 36 affirmed. insofar pertinent, reads follows: 'Section 2. devices, etc.—It shall unlawful maintain operate building, premises automobile, motor vehicle, device, mechanical kind therefrom cast directly where maintained advertising attracting public, operated sounds coming inconvenience travelers neighboring 3. Exception.—Public dissemination, through radio, loudspeakers, items matters activities deemed section Police.' Appellant's regarded throughout falling types activity enumerated take construed courts. 577, 578, 763, 1396, depart rule earlier re-emphasized vice Davis Massachusetts, 167 43, 731, 42 71, distinguished pages 514—516, 963, 1423, likewise parks. said, 'We occasion whether, disclosed, Case rightly decided, rules instant Wherever title rest, immemorially trust mind, communicating thoughts citizens, discussing questions. Such has, ancient times, beena part privileges, immunities, rights, citizens. privilege citizen interest all; absolute, relative, subordination general comfort convenience, consonance peace good order; guise regulation, abridged denied.' adhere view. Though statement Justices, plainly indicated route followed, merits consider controlling. last census population 24,379. More fifty years (162 Mass. 510, 39 N.E. 113, L.R.A. 712, 44 Am.St.Rep. 389) written Holmes holding providing 'no shall, grounds, * accordance mayor.' pointed attack ordinance's 'assumes generally, wheras toward modes Boston Common used.' point here, approving regulation controls involves forbade unauthorized exclusively Moreover, approved requirement 'any address' grounds.' overruled considered Hughes parades processions admittedly quoted connection, adhered quotation Court's support two possible third. failure seven Justices subscribe fatally impair standing Nothing interferes religion, press. Indeed, summarily strikes 'radio speakers' subject 'news activities' places' neigb oring premises' would, 3, barred Baldwin Missouri, 281 586, 595, 50 436, 439, 74 1056, 72 1303. 574, 765,

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