Speech Peddlers Police Special Order 1979
This Department Special Order reflects a constitutional interpretation of speech vendor’s rights under the 1st Amendment. You can access a readable and printable PDF file at this link “Police Special Order on Speech Venders in the Chicago Loop 1979″
This document has been used by at least one organization selling speech related items with some success in the Loop when confronted with police who do not know the law because the law is too complex. This may gain back your legitimate rights when confronted by a Policeman who is not under other outside pressure to move you off the spot you have chosen. However, be ready to move if the situation turns ugly or expect to sue Chicago to gain your speech rights.
This is not to be construed as legal advice but as common sense. Once again, the gage of your speech rights are the rights vendors of newspapers you see downtown enjoy. The press has lawyers who have established our rights to sell speech. Chicago artists have simply not fought for those same rights with enough unity to prevail.