Middleborough has approved a fine for swearing in public. (school, calculated)

[SuperSparkle928]

Originally Posted by FrugalYankee

I would think that would fall under public disturbance.

There is a weirdo who drives around the Vermont town where I have my business and he parks his car in random driveways (he did it in mine once when I wasn't there on the weekend - freaked out the neighbors). Then he gets out of his car and proceeds to cuss out his girlfriend on his cell phone at the top of his lungs. I actually saw him do this one time when I was at my house and saw him pull into the driveway across the road. Seriously if someone is oblivious to the outside world and all you hear is &^$& @#$#*% $&$^#&%*^@ ^#*&^**&^$@%@#* for 20 minutes at full volume you do kinda wish there was something you could do about it.

It's called '911'. Use it. That is what they are there for. At least when I was in the states, if they were on your property, they would be asked to leave by the local law enforcement agency, and if they wouldn't, the handcuffs go on. Simple enough.
I had it worse, living out in the middle of nowhere. Relatively young kids would take a refrigerator out onto my land, and then proceed to fill it full of holes with shotguns. I only went out twice, to tell them to get off my land, but as the mrs stated (and the police department stated, 'just call us'), so I let the local officials deal with it.

[FrugalYankee]

Originally Posted by SuperSparkle928

It's called '911'. Use it. That is what they are there for. At least when I was in the states, if they were on your property, they would be asked to leave by the local law enforcement agency, and if they wouldn't, the handcuffs go on. Simple enough.
I had it worse, living out in the middle of nowhere. Relatively young kids would take a refrigerator out onto my land, and then proceed to fill it full of holes with shotguns. I only went out twice, to tell them to get off my land, but as the mrs stated (and the police department stated, 'just call us'), so I let the local officials deal with it.

LOL that is pretty funny.

First off I was not there at the time. I own the house but do not live there. The neighbors evidently thought I had sold it to the nutcase and/or had rented it to him.

Second, I called the cops after the fact and the first question was:
"Do you have a 'no trespassing' sign on your property?"

As in it's my fault that some nut case is on my property (at 4 AM yet, revving his engine when he was finished cussing out his g/f) because I failed to post a 'no trespassing' sign on a driveway in what is obviously a residential neighborhood.

I did tell the neighbors to feel free to call the cops themselves if it happens again - for all the good THAT will do.

At any rate I see no problem with the judicious application of such a law or similar. Like I said I consider it disturbing the peace. Maybe some communities take it seriously.

[Cape Cod Todd]

I think the fine is a good idea. I don't use foul language and I see it as blemish on someones character and or upbringing when they cannot communicate without using profanity. Offensive language is just that offensive. I don't mind foul language in jokes, in music, or in movies but out in public like second hand cigarette smoke, I don't want to be around it. I think the worse offenders are teenagers that need to be reminded that it is not proper in public and most people don't want to hear it.
Chris410 is right We don't need another nanny law but if people don't have the common sense or courtesy maybe they do need a slap on the wrist to straighten them out.
How about instead of the $20 fine bring back the stocks and the offender can be placed in it for 20 minutes?

[wxjay]

Originally Posted by chris410

Thats great... but do we really need a BLEEPING nanny law/ordinance to enforce what should be common courtesy? welcome to the peoples republic of Massachusetts..

It's a fine, not a crime. And again, I have no issue with an ordinance to curb loud public disturbances. Are you OK with noise ordinances? Parking ordinances? Trash ordinances? It seems to me this is a big to do about nothing.

[donewithpretty]

I'm very curious to know what's on the disallowed profanity list. What's considered profanity changes so much over time, and it's so arbitrary. Will people be ticketed for saying, "Crap," "God damn it," "I'm pissed"? Who decides? Not sure why this can't be taken care of with a "disturbing the peace" law or just dirty looks from fellow townspeople.

[lrfox]

I feel bad for anyone with Tourette's in Middleborough.

It's a dumb law that will likely get canned as it is, simply put, unconstitutional. If you really feel like the language is an issue in a particular situation, nail the "perp." with a disturbing the peace charge or something similar. There a number of legal avenues local law enforcement can use to break up kids who are being obnoxious by swearing.

If anything, Middleborough will probably notice an uptick in public swearing because of the novelty of the law. I'd be floored if this doesn't get overturned somehow. Look, I don't like kids swearing as much as the next guy, but I am not a supporter of overbearing laws simply because I'm not a big fan of something. This is the adult version of the "swear jar" and it's just plain stupid.

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by donewithpretty

I'm very curious to know what's on the disallowed profanity list. What's considered profanity changes so much over time, and it's so arbitrary. Will people be ticketed for saying, "Crap," "God damn it," "I'm pissed"? Who decides? Not sure why this can't be taken care of with a "disturbing the peace" law or just dirty looks from fellow townspeople.

I'm guessing it's the "F" word.

[odinboy]

Did I say that out loud???? Crazy!

[JD59]

I think I could enjoy living in this place where swearing in public is not allowed.

MIDDLEBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Residents in Middleborough voted Monday night to make the foul-mouthed pay fines for swearing in public.
At a town meeting, residents voted 183-50 to approve a proposal from the police chief to impose a $20 fine on public profanity.

Mass. town OKs $20 fines for swearing in public - Yahoo! News

[mommytotwo]

Ha! I just saw this.

I'm not sure how I feel about it.

I'm kind of on the fence. On the one hand, it's a matter of free speech. On the other hand, some people just don't have a filter and will loudly swear no matter who is around.

I would like to see the list of words that will lead to a ticket.