[News] Things that are ridiculous.

[moonvoice]

I guess I won't ever be visiting Queensland now...

People who swear in public face on-the-spot $100 fines in Queensland, after new controversial legislation was passed.

Comments

[liondaughter.livejournal.com]

If this goes into effect right away, Lisa is going to get fined out the ass. ;-)

[jamminbison.livejournal.com]

I would be in the hole $1,000 by the time they even put pen to pad to write the ticket. What a stupid law.

[crsg.livejournal.com]

*headdesk* I am unable to express in words the stupidity of this legislation.

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

I imagine the intention is to fine people who are being obnoxious, swearing at strangers, screaming and yelling etc.

A conversation with friends peppered with obscenities shouldn't attract a fine.

[nightlove.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I live in a part of the world with a very similar bylaw, and it's pretty much enforced exactly like that.

all questions rhetorical, and snarky

[firehauke.livejournal.com]

Is crime so low that the police have nothing better to do with their time?
Is Queensland so hard up for money? (honestly, this is likely)

*sigh* In Santa Cruz, CA, USA, it's illegal to feed the parking meter for someone else. As well as spit on the sidewalk.

[silverjackal.livejournal.com]

the new laws, which also give police new powers to issue on-the-spot fines for public urination and disorderly conduct, would increase efficiency and save time

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But do they not have actual crimes to prosecute in Queensland? How does giving the police more stupid shit to deal with increase efficiency? I know this law is aimed at controlling people who are drunk and disorderly and being rowdy in public versus the fellow who just dropped his soda or hot coffee in his lap, but still. What era do they think this is? 1730? Of course I could get around this easily by simply using a less common tongue. "Your mother wears army boots" can sound very vulgar uttered in the right tones and in Swahili.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

Methinks the government or police force needs some more money in Queensland, or are hard up on cash, and plan on inflicting that on the public in some of the stupidest ways possible.

[nightlove.livejournal.com]

I have no idea if it will be enforced like similar bylaws up here, but...

Officers in my city at least (possibly in many cities across the country, I don't know as I've only ever lived in Calgary) can give tickets on-the-spot for things like public urination & disorderly conduct. Yes, including swearing.

People don't get ticketed for swearing out in public where a cop can hear them, however. It tends to get enforced if you're doing other things, like being really loud and disorderly (and swearing,) or repeatedly swearing very loudly on public transit (especially if there are children on board at the same time,) etc. Basically, if others are complaining about your behaviour enough. Though with the bus thing, you're more likely to get kicked off the bus rather than get a ticket.

Not that I agree with a fine for swearing in public at all, but needless to say I've grown up in a city with a bylaw exactly like that and I still haven't landed myself a ticket. :P And I have a mouth like a trucker!

[nightlove.livejournal.com]

PS: I see it as pretty much a money grab up here too.

Well...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

That's a creative new way to tell visitors "Stay the fuck out!"

[mirrorred-star.livejournal.com]

Fuck, that's stupid.

Although a tiny part of me now wants to go somewhere into the centre of Brisbane, yell, "Fuck" and run away very quickly.

[vanirpriestess.livejournal.com]

Well shit, I'm never gonna fucking visit there now.

[bunny-m.livejournal.com]

I saw this in the news this morning and thought "Oh, great. Another power for the Queensland Police to abuse, combined with an easy way for the State government to make money."

I wish I could say I was shocked and appalled, but really, the description of Queensland as 'Arkansas trying to become California' just seem way too apt, and increasingly so every day.

If only the W.A. government weren't trying to drag the state back into the dark ages as well. *sigh*

[pyewackettt.livejournal.com]

Umm. Wow. I don't like it when people swear in excess, this this is just daft. Anti self expression much? :/

[jkoyanagi.livejournal.com]

That's obnoxious!

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Wow!

In the West of Scotland, they'd make an absolute fortune. There's a certain class of person here that utters the 'F' word as a sort of surrogate adverb...

[amhrantine.livejournal.com]

Ha. Unless QLD have a zero-tolerance policy which basically forces GDs to comply with legislation to the letter, I'd say this is a matter for police discretion. In NSW we have anti-swearing stuff under "offensive conduct" under the summary offences act, but it's mainly for people who are actively abusing others in public and/or abusing cops. Not for some yobbo who tells his mate he's a fuckwit in the street. Not sure how it works in QLD though.