# What the Hell? Middleborough MA proposes $20 fine for swearing **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 11, 2012, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805 "2012-06-11T12:51:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/1 "2012-06-11T12:51:24Z")
Saw this in today’s Wall St. Journal, but it’s elsewhere, too: > [@](#): > > Middleborough Swearing Problem Leads to New Law to Fine Cursing - Town may fine people for swearing, A Massachusetts town is considering turning the concept of a swear jar into a local law. Under action proposed by the town’s police chief, Middleborough, Mass., officials would fine people who use “vulgar language”. The swearing ban is reportedly already on the books, but the chief wants to enforce it aggressively. > > Middleborough, Mass. is considering passing a law that would allow police officers to fine swearers $20. Some Middleborough residents are pleased with the law, which Police Chief Bruce Gates says would improve the quality of life, but others see it as an overreach by the government. [http://wallstreeit.blogspot.com/2012/05/middleborough-swearing-problem-leads-to.html](http://wallstreeit.blogspot.com/2012/05/middleborough-swearing-problem-leads-to.html) > [@](#): > > MIDDLEBOROUGH (CBS) – Public swearing is so bad in Middleborough that they’re considering a plan to start enforcing a longstanding but rarely-used law. > > Folks in town have had enough of kids and some adults who think it’s OK to drop high-volume obscenities in their otherwise bucolic downtown. > > “It’s intimidating to my customers,” says business owner Paulette Lilla, “to the people who are out here downtown, and I think it’s a good thing that they’re doing something to try to curb it.” > **[Middleborough Police Chief Proposes $20 Fine For Swearing](https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/middleborough-police-chief-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/)** > > Public swearing is so bad in Middleborough that they're considering a plan to start enforcing a longstanding but rarely-used law. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/2 "2012-06-11T13:32:19Z")
I support the shit out of this fuckin’ law. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/3 "2012-06-11T13:43:35Z")
. . .and thus, the Tourrettes Defense was born. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/4 "2012-06-11T17:06:05Z")
I’m no lawyer but I’m going to guess there may be some freedom of speech issues with this proposed law. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/5 "2012-06-11T17:26:08Z")
Who the fuck decides what is or isn’t vulgar language? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/6 "2012-06-11T17:34:34Z")
If I had the money, I’d go there, and just start screaming obscenities. And just keep dropping twenty-dollar bills into the jar. Fuck yeah. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/7 "2012-06-11T17:37:56Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Who the fuck decides what is or isn’t vulgar language? George Carlin. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/8 "2012-06-11T17:42:49Z")
I he didn’t say shit, you must acquit! ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/9 "2012-06-11T18:55:44Z")
_Allegedly_ it’s illegal to swear in Virginia, but if so, it’s _very_ selectively enforced. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/10 "2012-06-11T20:13:25Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > _Allegedly_ it’s illegal to swear in Virginia, but if so, it’s _very_ selectively enforced. Yeah, I figured it was just a VBeach thing, and couldn’t believe there were actually signs up when I lived there. :eek: [http://images.travelpod.com/users/bashleyf/1.1214261700.no-cussingx-virginia-beach.jpg](http://images.travelpod.com/users/bashleyf/1.1214261700.no-cussingx-virginia-beach.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/11 "2012-06-11T20:23:59Z")
"John Spartan, you are fined five credits for repeated violations of the verbal morality statute. " ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/12 "2012-06-11T20:27:38Z")
Sure they’ll start out banning cursing in public, but before you know it you won’t even be able to curse at your [toilet](http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/realityzone/UFNjailtoilet.htm) in the privacy of your own hom. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/13 "2012-06-11T21:15:55Z")
About fucking time. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/14 "2012-06-11T21:16:34Z")
…And people wonder why I call it Nannychusets … …almost as bad as Nanny York, Nannyetticut, Nanny Jersey, Nannynois, and Nannyfornia… …All states I would never live in. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/15 "2012-06-11T21:17:37Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Who the fuck decides what is or isn’t vulgar language? You know it when you hear it. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/16 "2012-06-11T22:19:04Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > …And people wonder why I call it Nannychusets … > …almost as bad as Nanny York, Nannyetticut, Nanny Jersey, Nannynois, and Nannyfornia… > > …All states I would never live in. No people don’t wonder why. Last month Concord MA decided to ban the sale of all ‘single size servings of bottled water’ I just wince every time I hear the results of a town meeting. Yeah we get a reputation for a reason. Still I’d much rather live in MA then any other state. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/17 "2012-06-11T22:39:18Z")
I’d love to see someone so fined challenge this in court with a simple “Fucking first amendment, bitches.” Granted, the judge probably won’t like that. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/18 "2012-06-11T23:03:48Z")
Michigan had a similar law, and it was struck down about ten years ago. One difference is that the Michigan law was enacted late in the nineteenth century. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/19 "2012-06-11T23:19:20Z")
The law seems really silly at first, but I get extremely tired of teenagers dropping f-bombs and swearing loudly or being lewd when I’m at the grocery store or whatever. It’s like, dude, there are kids here. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/20 "2012-06-11T23:22:11Z")
Completely fucking unconstitutional, fortunately. I’m sure they are aware of that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805.md?page=2)