New Tennessee bill could ban porn on car DVD players

A Tennessee House of Representatives subcommittee this week willdebate a bill banning the playing of pornographic material on carDVD players in public areas. The bill was passed by the statesenate last year but requires approval by both bodies to becomelaw.

If passed, Tennessee would be the first state to impose a $50fine and possible criminal charges for anyone convicted ofdisplaying pornographic material in their vehicle in public.

Andrea Hardin, public relations major, said she has seen driverswith pornographic material playing on their car DVD players.

"I've seen people with porn playing in the back seat of theircar and nobody is watching it," Hardin said. "They're just tryingto show off."

However, Hardin has mixed ideas about making the actillegal.

"I do and don't agree with the law," she said. "It is freespeech, but there are also laws that restrict signs and what can beplaced on the car, so the inside of the car could be the same."

A vehicle and a home are considered private property, andpossessing pornographic material in them is not unlawful, saidElinor Grusin, media law professor.

"It's the same as in your house, and the Supreme Court said youcan possess and view this type of material in your home," she said."It would seem that there is a parallel between a car and ahome."

U of M senior Courtney Gibson said he would disagree with a lawprohibiting playing porn in a vehicle.

"It's like they're banning the freedom of expression insomeone's own property," Gibson said.

The bill has also sparked some to debate the difference betweenobscenity and indecency.

"Indecency is foul language but not obscenity," Grusin said."It's really only applied to over-the-air broadcasters, notindividuals."

While there are laws against indecency, Grusin said they usuallyaren't enforced.

"If law enforcement was zealous about indecency, they wouldarrest people all day on campus for their conversations," shesaid.