People v. Remeny

79 Misc. 2d 160, 359 N.Y.S.2d 504, 1974 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1609
CourtCriminal Court of the City of New York
DecidedSeptember 19, 1974
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 79 Misc. 2d 160 (People v. Remeny) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Criminal Court of the City of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Remeny, 79 Misc. 2d 160, 359 N.Y.S.2d 504, 1974 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1609 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1974).

Opinion

Max H. Galfunt, J.

The defendant is charged with violating subdivision 5 of section 755(2)-7.0 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, which prohibits littering and, more specifically, prohibits the distribution of purely commercial or business advertising material. A trial was held on the question and the following facts, which the defendant does not dispute, were adduced.

On January 30, 1974 defendant was distributing handbills to pedestrians in front of Madison Square Garden -in New York County. The handbills contained information that a concert was to be performed starring certain well-known jazz musicians and artists at Philharmonic Hall. The various prices of admission tickets were displayed on the handbill, No other information appeared on the handbill.

Defendant stated that he was distributing the handbills for New Audience Productions; they were the producers and promoters of the particular jazz concert mentioned in the handbills. Defendant received a concert admission ticket from New Audience Productions in lieu of monetary payment for his work.

Subsequently, the defendant was issued a summons and charged with violating subdivision 5 of section 755(2)-7.0 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York. At the end of the trial, the defendant made a motion to have the charge currently pending dismissed.

Defendant contends that the concert in question was “ speech ” within the concept of the First Amendment and is thus entitled to that amendment’s full protection. Further, the defendant contends that an advertisement for a concert— an event which is protected by the First Amendment — differs from ‘ ‘ purely commercial advertising. ’ ’

The defendant also concludes that subdivision 5 of section 755(2)-7.0 is unconstitutional as applied to this case and is unconstitutionally overbroad on its face.

Subdivision 5 of section 755(2)-7.0 states: “ No person shall throw, cast or distribute, or cause or permit to be thrown, cast or distributed, any handbill, circular, card, booklet, placard or other advertising matter whatsoever, in or upon any street or public place, or in a front yard or courtyard, or on any stoop, [162]*162or in the vestibule of any hall in any building, or in a letter box therein; provided that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prohibit or otherwise regulate the delivery of any such matter by the United States postal service, or prohibit the distribution of sample copies of newspapers regularly sold by the copy or by annual subscription. This section is not intended to prevent the lawful distribution of anything other than commercial and business advertising matter. (Emphasis added.)

This court will concede that the concert represented such expression as to be protected by the First Amendment.

Nevertheless, the court does not conclude that the handbills and leaflets advertising the concert are so protected by the First Amendment. The defendant’s distribution of the handbills or leaflets advertising the concert did fall within the purview of subdivision 5 of section 755(2)-7.0 of the Administrative Code which seeks to prohibit the distribution of purely commercial or business advertising.

A case directly in point with the one before this court is Valentine v. Chrestensen (316 U. S. 52). In that case, defendant was the owner of a former United States Navy submarine. He exhibited it for profit. He moved his submarine in the East River in New York City. He printed handbills advertising the boat and solicited visitors for a fee. When he attempted to distribute the handbills, he was advised by the Police Commissioner that the distribution of the handbills would violate section 318 of the Sanitary Code.

Related

State ex rel. Pizza v. Tom. S. A., Inc.
428 N.E.2d 878 (Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, 1981)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
79 Misc. 2d 160, 359 N.Y.S.2d 504, 1974 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1609, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-remeny-nycrimct-1974.