Prosecutor Won't Drop Case against Christian Ticketed for Posting Scripture Sign on Vehicle

Amanda Casanova | ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor | Updated: Jan 30, 2015

Prosecutor Won't Drop Case against Christian Ticketed for Posting Scripture Sign on Vehicle

A New Jersey prosecutor doesn’t want to drop charges against a man who posted a sign on his truck with Scripture on it.

“The prosecutor stated that he was not going to drop the case because he wanted to respect the authority of police,” Luis Zapata, whose defense attorney spoke with the prosecution last week, told Christian News Network on Wednesday. “Especially with the events with the police officers in New York City—the protests and the negative view of the officers—he was going to stand by the officer.”

Zapata lives just outside of Englewood and had posted Scripture and other Christian messages on his truck.

“Two years ago, the Lord said to me, ‘Start praying. Go out into the streets and go preach the gospel. Put signs on your car. Tell everybody that I’m coming soon,'” he recalled.

Then two years ago, the Englewood Police Department started ticketing Zapata and other Christian supports for their outreach outside of an abortion facility.

Then in August 2014, Englewood police officer Mark Van Wormer told Zapata to take down his signs from his truck, saying that he needed a permit.

According to city law: “No person shall operate or park on any street any vehicle for the purpose of displaying advertising,” the ordinance reads, “provided, however, that the Council may issue temporary permits for such advertising display on vehicles for public, charitable, benevolent and religious undertakings. The Council may impose limitations and restrictions as may be conducive to the public welfare upon the issuance of temporary permits.”

Zapata, however, says his sign is not an advertisement.

Publication date: January 30, 2015



Prosecutor Won't Drop Case against Christian Ticketed for Posting Scripture Sign on Vehicle