Florida Town’s Portable Sign Ban Blocked, Almost Surely Invalid

A Florida town’s ban on hand-held signs “almost surely violates the First Amendment” even though it’s content-neutral, because it entirely forecloses a venerable form of speech and doesn’t leave open alternative channels of communication, the Eleventh Circuit said.

Fort Myers Beach, Fla., established an elaborate permitting scheme for all signs and categorically banned certain types of signs, including portable ones.

Adam LaCroix sued the town and two police officers after receiving a citation for displaying a sign with a religious message.

His request for a preliminary injunction was denied by the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida, ...