Missouri town considers ban on swearing in bars

[srqrebel]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080108/ap_on_fe_st/odd_cussing_ban

Bill would ban swearing in bars

What the ...? A St. Louis-area town is considering a bill that would ban swearing in bars, along with table-dancing, drinking contests and profane music.

City officials contend the bill is needed to keep rowdy crowds under control because the historic downtown area gets a little too lively on some nights.

City Councilman Richard Veit said he was prompted to propose the bill after complaints about bad bar behavior. He says it will give police some rules to enforce when things get too rowdy.

But some bar owners worry the bill is too vague and restrictive, saying it may be a violation of their civil rights.

Marc Rousseau, who owns bar R.T. Weilers, said he thinks the bill needs revision.

"We're dealing with adults here once again and I don't think it's the city's job or the government's job to determine what we can and cannot play in our restaurant," Rousseau said.

The proposal would ban indecent, profane or obscene language, songs, entertainment and literature at bars.

A meeting to discuss the proposal is set for Jan. 14.

[Lloyd Danforth]

Holy Fucking Shit!  Who would have believed this!  Next thing you know they'll ban smoking in bars

[srqrebel]

LOL

[John Edward Mercier]

Or alcohol.

This should be an interesting one... the local government will overstep its bounds, be sued using its own civil court, and have the town and board members that vote the statute in as defendants.

What a cage they build for themselves.

[shyfrog]

Must be the geniuses from the St. Louis area just over the border influencing the gu'mints

[Fluff and Stuff]

It is already against the law to swear in the street.

[John Edward Mercier]

Just keep saying 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge'.

[Raineyrocks]

It is already against the law to swear in the street.

Are you serious?  Is this law in every state? 

So I guess a cop would have to hear you or is it so bad already that some neighbor could call the cops and say, "hey I heard Mr. Smith saying fuck in street"?   I don't mean that Mr. Smith wants to F**K in the street, maybe I should have used a different curse word, I just love that one though!

[Fluff and Stuff]

I mean, if a cop hears you curse, he can get you for disturbing the peace.

[kola]

then cops can't swear either.

We need some signs "No Cops allowed"

"Private Property, Cops stay away"

Attention Cops, If you do not have a valid warrant, you are tresspassing, LEAVE.

"Cops are unwelcomed guests here"

Kola

[KBCraig]

I mean, if a cop hears you curse, he can get you for disturbing the peace.

"Disturbing the peace" is a specific statute, and the statutory language varies from state to state, and an "offense" by that name doesn't even exist in many states.

In NH, for instance, there is no such charge as "disturbing the peace". There is Disorderly Conduct, which has some vague language (like 644:2:II(e), which is what Kat and Russell were charged under for engaging in free speech on a public sidewalk when Shrub was in town).

It also has some very specific language. A cop can't "get you" just for cursing in NH:.

644:2 Disorderly Conduct. – A person is guilty of disorderly conduct if:
    (...)
    II. He or she:
       (...)
       (b) Directs at another person in a public place obscene, derisive, or offensive words which are likely to provoke a violent reaction on the part of an ordinary person;

Note that curse words aren't required, and that curse words alone aren't enough to invoke the statute. Time, place, manner of delivery and audience must all be weighed. (Under normal American circumstances, "Fuck the Queen!" won't provoke a violent reaction, but when yelled from atop the bar by a drunken Texas Aggie, towards a crowd of drunken Brits and Canadians, at the post-tournament festivities following a good old Ammurrican ass-whooping of said Brits and Canadians in a round-robin of rugby, said phrase most definitely meets the statutory test. Don't Ask Me How I Know This. (Not being an Aggie, I made it out alive and skedaddled over the hill while the MP's sirens were closing in.))

[Pat McCotter]

then cops can't swear either.

We need some signs "No Cops allowed"

"Private Property, Cops stay away"

Attention Cops, If you do not have a valid warrant, you are tresspassing, LEAVE.

"Cops are unwelcomed guests here"

Kola

How about this welcome mat?

[kola]

Nice Pat!

[Pat McCotter]

Nice Pat!

It's available at Target.

[kola]

Nice Pat!

It's available at Target.

NO SHIT?

all of as sudden, I Like Target!

Kola