Georgia City Sued Over Law Requiring Prescription To Buy Sex Toys

[Ladewig]

A man and woman in Georgia have filed a lawsuit against the city of Sandy Springs, GA, attempting to challenge a city ordinance that requires a consumer get a prescription from a doctor in order to purchase sex toys.

According to city ordinance 38-120, the sale and purchase of “obscene material” — which includes “any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs” — is forbidden in Sandy Springs, with the exception that the sale or purchase may be okay if it is “done for a bona fide medical, scientific, educational, legislative, judicial, or law enforcement purpose.”

In the suit filed last month in a U.S. District Court in Atlanta, two consumers each make their case for wanting to purchase the devices without having to bring a note from the doctor.

http://sbynews.blogspot.com/2014/05/georgia-city-sued-over-law-requiring.html

The law, which dates from 2007, also applies to the rental of devices designed to stimulate human genitals.


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ETA:
I am tempted to go to Georgia to test the limits of the law before the suit reaches the courts. I'd love to say "I am a lobbyist and I need to purchase this vibrator for legislative purposes," just to see what would happen.

 

[gabeygoat]

What on earth would Law enforcement need to stimulate my genitals for?

I imagine the people who made this law consider themselves "small government" conservatives.

 

[pgwenthold]

Why does law enforcement get an exception? Cops are allowed stimulate genitals?

 

[BardKesnit]

If I had to guess, the law enforcement exception is intended to allow investigation of sex crimes.

 

[12AX7]

The law, which dates from 2007, also applies to the rental of devices designed to stimulate human genitals.

 

[The_Animus]

If I had to guess, the law enforcement exception is intended to allow investigation of sex crimes.

Why would law enforcement need to purchase a sex toy in order to be allowed to investigate a sex crime?

 

[ravdin]

Why does law enforcement get an exception? Cops are allowed stimulate genitals?

The police might need to go deep undercover to infiltrate sex toy networks. Your tax dollars at work.

 

[steve s]

I imagine the people who made this law consider themselves "small government" conservatives.

Yep. Gettin' gubmint out of the boardroom and into the bedroom.

Steve S

 

[gregthehammer]

http://sbynews.blogspot.com/2014/05/georgia-city-sued-over-law-requiring.html

The law, which dates from 2007, also applies to the rental of devices designed to stimulate human genitals.


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I really hope this isn't indicative of Georgia as a whole. I mean, I know it's the bible belt and all, but 2007 is fairly recent, and they felt they had to pass a law to prohibit the sale of vibrators?

 

[Bikewer]

Fortunately, one might still be able to purchase electric toothbrushes....

 

[Varanid]

I imagine the people who made this law consider themselves "small government" conservatives.

I don't live in Sandy Springs, but it is right next door. You hit the nail right on the head.

 

[Puppycow]

with the exception that the sale or purchase may be okay if it is “done for a bona fide medical, scientific, educational, legislative, judicial, or law enforcement purpose.”

I remember the sex toy shop I went into a long time ago had a very similar disclaimer that the products were only being sold for "bona fide medical, scientific, or educational purposes" or something like that. And by buying them you agreed to that. Didn't need a prescription though.

 

[Puppycow]

In Japan there's some sort of silly disclaimers too, such as the sex toys are being sold as "joke goods".

 

[ponderingturtle]

A lot of sex toys are sold as novelty items. Helps keep people unaware that they can be mostly BPA.

 

[Howie Felterbush]

I remember the sex toy shop I went into a long time ago had a very similar disclaimer that the products were only being sold for "bona fide medical, scientific, or educational purposes" or something like that. And by buying them you agreed to that. Didn't need a prescription though.

I saw one with a label that said, "Do not use on unexplained ankle pain".

It was terrifyingly huge and realistic-looking. It didn't look to me like something that anyone would think to use for ankle pain, explained or otherwise.

 

[TragicMonkey]

I really hope this isn't indicative of Georgia as a whole. I mean, I know it's the bible belt and all, but 2007 is fairly recent, and they felt they had to pass a law to prohibit the sale of vibrators?

Not all of Georgia is like that. In fact, one of the biggest sex toy retailers in the US is in Georgia.

 

[Woolgatherer]

Could you call it a donation or an offering and be cool? You know, "donate to us and you'll receive this free gift."

 

[Monketi Ghost]

A lot of sex toys are sold as novelty items. Helps keep people unaware that they can be mostly BPA.

I worked in a sex store for a while, and pretty much all the marital aids had a warning on the package: "Caution: for novelty purposes only. Do not use."

Not kidding.

 

[cwalner]

Fortunately, one might still be able to purchase electric toothbrushes....

Yes, but then naming it 'Gerard' is both creepy and illegal in that city now.

 

[cwalner]

In Japan there's some sort of silly disclaimers too, such as the sex toys are being sold as "joke goods".

Well, I once bought a vibrator from Spencer's that was boxed as a joke item - it was touted as a 'muscle massager' on the box. I got it as a going away present for a friend of mine that was going to France for a semester to study abroad.