Freedom Flix

License to Describe: Defeating Washington D.C.'s Tour Guide Licensing Scheme

In Washington, D.C., talking without a license can land you in jail for 90 days. Tonia Edwards and Bill Main are lawbreakers. Nearly every day, they teach a group of people how to ride Segways, and then take them around Washington, D.C., to talk about local sights and attractions. Their business is located near the National Archives, so one of the things they tell their customers is where the Bill of Rights is located. For this, the city government could throw Tonia and Bill in prison for three months. In Washington, D.C., it is illegal for anyone to give a tour of the city for compensation without first obtaining a special licensequite literally, a license to describe.

Embed on your site:

Support IJ Email to a Friend

Freedom Flix

The Institute for Justice is always looking for new ways to promote the message of freedom. To that end, IJ produced the following videos in-house to tell the stories of our clients and their fight for individual liberty.

None of this — the cases or these videos — would be possible without the continued generosity of our donors. We hope you enjoy them and share them with those who need a little inspiration.

Subscribe to our videos via iTunes or YouTube.

		Saving Lives: Challenging the Ban on Compensating Bone Marrow Donors (2:49)
		Free to Design: Florida Entrepreneurs Take On the Interior Design Cartel (3:27) A small group of well-funded industry insiders led by the American Society of Interior Designers has been relentless in its pursuit of ever more restrictive laws. Studies have shown that interior design regulations result in higher prices, less variety, a
		San Tan Flat & The Fight Against Arbitrary Government Power (3:07)
		The Campaign Finance Bait & Switch: Fair Elections Now Act (1:12) They're at it again. The same special interests who for decades have called for government-funded political campaigns?what amounts to welfare for politicians?are again pushing something called the Fair Elections Now Act . . . a proposal that would create
		Andrea Weck & School Choice (3:51)
		Karen Sampson & Free Speech (3:57)
		Lori Ann Vendetti & Property Rights (4:29)
		The Story of Susette Kelo (11:00)
		The Story of Randy Bailey (9:10)