Truck nuts

Truck nuts hanging from the tow hitch of a Chevy Suburban

Truck nuts, also known as Truck nutz, truck balls, BumperNuts, BumperBalls, CargoNads, Drive-thru Danglers, Trucksticles, HitchNuggets, Highway Hangers, Balls-on-a-truck, or, as they are known in the United Kingdom, Bumper Bollocks, are plastic accessories for pickup trucks and other vehicles which resemble a pair of dangling testicles.[1] Truck nuts are usually hung for humour or amusement. They are attached under the rear bumper of the vehicle so they are visible from behind.[2]

Manufacture

Manufacturers of truck nuts use HDPE, ABS, and PVC plastics to create them; truck nuts made from hollow aluminum and solid brass can also be found. Truck nuts are sold in a variety of different colors and metallic coatings.

Reaction

Public reaction to truck nuts has been mixed. A columnist from Metro Silicon Valley wrote that she was "actually not sure whether or not this is a joke product, or if someone would really proudly display them".[3]

Attempts at prohibition

In 2007, a proposal was made by Maryland politician LeRoy E. Myers Jr. to prohibit motorists from "displaying anything resembling or depicting 'anatomically correct' or 'less than completely and opaquely covered' human or animal genitals, human buttocks or female breasts".[2] He referred to the testicles as "vulgar and immoral," and stated that his proposal was made at the request of a resident who was offended by the accessory.[2] On January 15, 2008, Virginia Delegate Lionell Spruill proposed Bill HB 1452, which would prohibit truck owners from displaying or otherwise equipping their vehicles with devices resembling human genitalia.[4][5] In April 2008, Florida lawmakers launched an additional attempt to ban truck nuts, making their display punishable by a $60 fine.[6]

In 2011, a South Carolina woman was ticketed for adorning her truck with truck nuts. The case is pending trial,[7] and as of 2013 a trial date had not been set.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Blair, Zachary, "Junk in the Trunk: A Queer Exploration of Truck Nutz as Contemporary Material Culture," paper presented at Queertopia, Northwestern University Graduate Student Conference, Chicago, IL, 2009.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Rein, Lisa (February 23, 2007). "Fake Private Parts Are No Joke, Myers Says". Washington Post. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  3. ↑ Carpenter, Novella. "Stranger Than Fiction". Rev. Retrieved 3 September 2007.
  4. ↑ Delegate Lionell Spruill, Sr. (December 2008). "HB 1452 Display of offensive objects or devices; prohibited on any vehicle.". Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  5. ↑ Lewis, Bob. "Watch what you put on trailer hitches". Tri-City Herald. Retrieved January 16, 2008.
  6. ↑ Peltier, Michael (2008-04-25). "State moves to ban fake testicles on vehicles". Reuters. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  7. ↑ Munday, Dave (2011-07-27). "Obscenity case will be heard by jury". The Post and Courier - Charleston, SC. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  8. ↑ Watanabe, June (September 18, 2013), "Offensive decor on vehicles counts as protected speech", Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Oahu Publications Inc.  – via ProQuest (subscription required) )