68. Is this law constitutional?

D is correct. The law is constitutional because it satisfies the First Amendment standards for government restrictions on commercial speech. The mailings contain commercial speech because they advertise services provided by the psychotherapists. A restriction on commercial speech is subject to a form of intermediate judicial scrutiny, requiring the government to show that the restriction directly advances an important government interest and that the restriction is not substantially more extensive than necessary to protect that interest. The law here satisfies that standard; the 30-day waiting period for the psychotherapists' mailings narrowly serves the government's substantial interests in protecting both the privacy of accident victims and the public regard for psychotherapy.

A is incorrect. It is true that the law singles out one type of message for prohibition while allowing other types. Such content-based restrictions on speech typically are subjected to strict judicial scrutiny and are invalidated. This law, however, is subject to a less exacting form of judicial scrutiny because it restricts commercial speech.

B is incorrect. The fact that the mailings provide information to consumers entitles the mailings to First Amendment protection. However, because the mailings advertise the services of psychotherapists, they contain commercial speech and therefore are entitled to less constitutional protection than other forms of speech.

C is incorrect. Misleading commercial speech is not protected by the First Amendment, and governments are thus free to restrict such speech. The mailings in this case are not misleading, however, because the facts state that «PTSD is a possible result» of car accidents.