Will Cramer, a Nazareth, Pennsylvania resident, filed a lawsuit against his borough challenging a 33-year-old ordinance that prohibits parking vehicles for sale on the road. Cramer placed a ‘for sale’ sign on his 1987 Chevy Deluxe after failing to sell it online. He received a parking ticket in October 2023 for violating the ordinance. Cramer argues that his vehicle was parked legally on a public street and that he has a First Amendment right to display a ‘for sale’ sign. He claims he had no driveway and had found a buyer before the fine but refused to pay it.
Cramer’s lawsuit claims that Section 410 of chapter 15 of the borough of Nazareth’s ordinances, which prohibits parking for the purpose of selling, is unconstitutional. The lawsuit argues that Cramer did not park his truck for the purpose of selling it and that the ordinance violates his First Amendment right to free speech.
Borough Council President Daniel Chiavaroli said the ordinance has been in place since 1991 to prevent residents from buying and selling vehicles on the street. However, Cramer argues that the ordinance is too broad and that it infringes on his free speech rights.
The lawsuit seeks a permanent ban on the ordinance in Nazareth. Cramer believes that the lawsuit is about more than just his fine; it is about protecting the free speech rights of all Nazareth residents.
