# Could the police arrest you for calling them "pigs"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 31, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854 "2009-10-31T15:37:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Philosopher)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/1 "2009-10-31T15:37:16Z")
A few nights ago a few friends and I left a bar, and we were standing outside waiting for a friend to come out. A police car pulled up at the junction about 30 feet away and one of my friends, being in a merry mood and perhaps foolishly, joked, “uh oh, it’s the pigs!”. He joked a little too loudly, and the policemen immediately swerved over to us and gave us a strict talking-to about not insulting the police. We apologized and he went on his way. I can’t remember his exact words but he seemed to say at one point that he, “could have arrested us” for it. I was just wondering if that’s true, because personally I suspect it isn’t. Can you be arrested for insulting the police, even if your behavior isn’t aggressive or threatening? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/2 "2009-10-31T15:44:03Z")
Well, they can’t but they will if you know what I mean. [DC Attorney arrested for saying “I hate the police” in a mocking tone of voice](http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/sexist/2009/07/30/gay-man-arrested-for-mocking-police-bigotry/) I went to college with Pepin Tuma - you never forget a name like that. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/3 "2009-10-31T16:26:35Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Well, they can’t but they will if you know what I mean. > > [DC Attorney arrested for saying “I hate the police” in a mocking tone of voice](http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/sexist/2009/07/30/gay-man-arrested-for-mocking-police-bigotry/) > > I went to college with Pepin Tuma - you never forget a name like that. In downtown San Jose Ca that could get you slamed to the ground and arrested for drunk and disorderly. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/4 "2009-10-31T22:37:42Z")
I once got arrested for calling a police officer a “fucking douchebag,” (and yes, it was deserved). In court, the judge fined me 5 dollars, only because there were minors present who had overheard me. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/5 "2009-10-31T23:44:06Z")
Sure they can arrest you because they don’t like your hairdo. Doesn’t mean you’ll be convicted of a crime. The police are given broad discretion and can detain people as the deem necessary. The courts regularly dismiss cases like panache25’s example. While it may be deemed legal at a later date to have called the police ‘pigs’ it is still a bad idea. They can arrest you it will be a major inconvenience and any litigation you’d seek at a later date to compensate for said inconvenience will likely be dismissed as a frivolous waste of the courts time. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/6 "2009-11-01T00:41:02Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I once got arrested for calling a police officer a “fucking douchebag,” (and yes, it was deserved). In court, the judge fined me 5 dollars, only because there were minors present who had overheard me. What was the actual charge? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/7 "2009-11-01T00:43:14Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > What was the actual charge? Shenanigans 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/8 "2009-11-01T00:50:59Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Shenanigans 🙂 Misdemeanor shenanigans or felony shenanigans? ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/9 "2009-11-01T00:51:21Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > In downtown San Jose Ca that could get you slamed to the ground and arrested for drunk and disorderly. Saying you hate the police, or telling them that your name is Pepin Tuma? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/10 "2009-11-01T00:52:03Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Misdemeanor shenanigans or felony shenanigans? Contempt of Cop ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/11 "2009-11-01T01:28:27Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > In court, the judge fined me 5 dollars, only because there were minors present who had overheard me. Shades of QB VII. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/12 "2009-11-01T02:55:47Z")
> [@SCSimmons](#): > > Saying you hate the police, or telling them that your name is Pepin Tuma? Just becareful in downtown. It has happened ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/13 "2009-11-01T03:12:26Z")
Who the heck is Pepin Tuma? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/14 "2009-11-01T03:19:30Z")
They can push you around and accuse you of resisting arrest. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/15 "2009-11-01T03:26:18Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > In downtown San Jose Ca that could get you slamed to the ground and arrested for drunk and disorderly. Not unless you _are_ drunk and disorderly. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/16 "2009-11-01T03:46:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Not unless you _are_ drunk and disorderly. :dubious: Surely, if they _think_ you are drunk & disorderly. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/17 "2009-11-01T04:02:52Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Who the heck is Pepin Tuma? See second post. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/18 "2009-11-01T04:07:15Z")
They shouldn’t legally arrest you for saying “pigs”, but they should be able to arrest you for saiyng “po-lice” since if you pronounce the term that way there’s a 99.7% chance you have committed a crime in the immediate past. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/19 "2009-11-01T04:21:31Z")
> [@ToeJam](#): > > See second post. Ah. “Shut up, faggot.” I didn’t read the link. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854/20 "2009-11-01T05:05:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Not unless you _are_ drunk and disorderly. :dubious: The cop is the judge of you being drunk and disorderly. There is no test given you are not allowed to request one. The cop will cuff you throw in the back of his car and drop you off at the drunk tank. The next morning you are given an appearance ticket ans you are relieased. When your court date comes up the cop will not show up, case dismissed. But you spent the night in the can and probably were thrown down so you could be cuffed. If I remember right San Jose has over twice the D&D arrest than San Diego. It was in the news last month when a reporter after experiencing SJPD and a D&D did the research. The numbers are there to suport the fact that they are abusing the D&D charge. The charge is not dubious. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-police-arrest-you-for-calling-them-pigs/515854.md?page=2)