A $20 fine for public swearing

Residents in Middleborough, Massachusetts, have voted 183-50 to approve a proposal from the police chief to impose a $20 fine on public profanity. This State law will allow towns to enforce local laws that give police the power to arrest anyone who "addresses another person with profane or obscene language" in a public place.

Officials insist the proposal was not intended to censor casual or private conversations, but instead to crack down the language used by teens and other young people in the downtown area and public parks. This will give police discretion over whether to ticket someone if they believe the cursing ban has been violated.

I think that this is a bit too much; first of all I can't imagine anyone being that loud to disturbe the whole downtown area and I just hope that police will do a good job and won't ticket someone without a good reason. What do you think guys about this? Do you know any other similar laws that really doesn't make much sense.

We do not have anything like that here...thank god,because boy would I be in trouble!!

I have friends here who've been ticketed for dropping the F-bomb  (ON, Canada)

Hm, looks like one of those laws that get voted just for show. I doubt that the police will be going around with their ears like antennas to catch the latest profane words and fine the culprits.

Here you will get a fine of 60euro when showing the finger to the law.

Public Order Act here in the UK if you swear at a copper.  You will be arrested if you continue to swear at them after being warned and you will likely be cautioned and receive a fine.  A caution is a criminal record these days.

I think I can understand the swearing at a copper, but for a private conversation that could be overheard resulting in a fine, it just seems a bit silly imho.

blue

Well, try as they might to enforce this, the ACLU would step in quickly for violation of "Free Speech" While I agree that cussing for no good reason is offensive, you start restricting this and then other laws will come about and soon, the freedom you had will be only a memory.


Oh, just recalled the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" (Great read) and in it, there's an exchange between 2 men and one says "I'll get the "Ladies Law" on you!"

Time was (In the late 1880's-early 1930's) that swearing in front of females was considered a crime and you could be arrested. Now I have heard "Ladies" who could outdo a sailor!

Lol, who says you have free speech? Try saying 'bomb' on an airplane or 'gun' in an airport 

That's ridiculous but then again so are a lot of other things these days.

          OMG,  katt your talents are truly being wasted.  You should do comedy.    Hey Johan,  where is that 60Euro fine? what country?  Anyhow,  I'm in Florida and I'm glad they don't have that law in place here 'cause I'm afraid I'd go bankrupt.

I keep thinking of the movie 'Demolition Man' with Sylvester Stallone and Sandra Bullock. With the swearing machines that fine you every time you swear... ...

katt

        I almost forgot about that movie.  I think Sly had the right idea about what to do with the tickets!!!