Trimet Loses Free Speech Case: Commercial and Political Ad Protections in Oregon

1) ACLU of Oregon story (and links)

2) Oregonlive stories:

a) Trimet loses free speech case (includes link to opinion):

“An Oregon judge has ruled that TriMet’s refusal to allow a bus ad criticizing dams on the Klamath River violated constitutional free speech protections.

Judge Henry C. Breithaupt ruled that TriMet doesn’t have to accept ads on buses. But if it does so, it cannot refuse some ads based on their content.

To read the decision, click here.

TriMet rejected the ad, proposed by Friends of the River and the Karuk Tribe of California, because it violated the transit agency’s ban on political ads.

TriMet’s policy only accepts commercial ads. …” (read full story)

b) “TriMet loses case over its ad rejection,” Wednesday, June 04, 2008, by Ashbel S. Green:

“An Oregon judge has ruled that TriMet’s rejection of a bus ad criticizing dams on the Klamath River violated constitutional free speech protections.

Judge Henry C. Breithaupt ruled that TriMet doesn’t have to accept ads on public transportation. But if the Portland-area mass transit agency does so, the Oregon and federal constitutions prohibit refusing ads based on their content….” (read full story)