Swearers face instant $100 fines

[TVR-190]

Police will be given the power to issue $100 on-the-spot fines for swearing in public under controversial new legislation in Queensland.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said 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.

She said that keeping minor offenders out of the courts would save the state between $18 million and $30 million, the Courier Mail reports.

But the new legislation, which will be introduced to parliament later this year, has drawn criticism from researchers.

An evaluation conducted by Griffith University said that the on-the-spot powers meant police would issue tickets in situations that would not be considered criminal before the courts.

The findings came from a review of data from a one-year trial of the reforms in South Brisbane and Townsville.

The NSW Ombudsman and Queensland Council of Civil Liberties have also expressed concern that offensive language fines could be issued in cases where they are not warranted.

But Police Minister Neil Roberts told the newspaper that inappropriate behaviour in public was not acceptable and would not be tolerated.

Swearers face instant $100 fines in Queensland

If I've said it once I've said i a million times...

Theres something terribly wrong with this country...

[minux]

Hmm, so does this mean QLD will be censoring all tv/radio swearing or issuing fines also?

Kevin Rudd will be screwed, I mean, afterall those rat ****ing chinese tried to rat **** him....

[davey g-force]

Probably no big deal.

It'll be one of those laws that are rarely enforced. Police will have the discretion to issue the fine if they want i.e I doubt they'll fine you for dropping the odd f-bomb, walking down the street but it could be used against say drunken/disorderly idiots in certain situations.

[TVR-190]

Probably no big deal.

It'll be one of those laws that are rarely enforced. Police will have the discretion to issue the fine if they want i.e I doubt they'll fine you for dropping the odd f-bomb, walking down the street but it could be used against say drunken/disorderly idiots in certain situations.

or it could be used against anyone if they just want to be a prick, since it seems to be discretion for what is classified as a swear.

[Dum*P*ster]

Woohooo!!!! Revenue raising again!!

Top job cops....Top effin job....

[minux]

Woohooo!!!! Revenue raising again!!

Top job cops....Top effin job....

lol, police do not pass the laws. Their bosses do.

[acarmody]

I don't know, this might be an OK law. As long as its used properly and not abused then I like it. I'm sick of people who can't string a sentence together without saying at least 5 swear words in it.

[VL_5SPEED]

lol everyone swears including cops.

[Demonica]

Like to see them try and pass this one. People should be allowed to talk to each other without the worry of getting a fine for letting the 'f' word drop. The police have enough crap to deal with now without being forced to deal with people 'fing this and fing that. Bloody Qld labor party are well and truly turning into a bunch of Nazis. Bligh should learn to mind her own bloody business on concentrate on her own job whatever that is.

[acarmody]

Like to see them try and pass this one. People should be allowed to talk to each other without the worry of getting a fine for letting the 'f' word drop. The police have enough crap to deal with now without being forced to deal with people 'fing this and fing that. Bloody Qld labor party are well and truly turning into a bunch of Nazis. Bligh should learn to mind her own bloody business on concentrate on her own job whatever that is.

True, very true.

But when your on a train or bus or just sitting down in some eating area, you don't want someone nearby slinging out f*** every second word, if your not intelligent enough to talk properly then piss off to some private place and talk like a moron.

[Julie]

I like the idea, would like to see it in nsw as if the cops are going to just fine any regular tom, dick or harry. It will be those smart arse scumbags that like to mouth off at the coppers that will be getting the fines.

[Dum*P*ster]

[QUOTE=Leah;1574538.... Bligh should learn to mind her own bloody business on concentrate on her own job whatever that is.[/QUOTE]
Day Time Unsuccessful Hooker

[HoldenOnn]

Hmmmm maybe they will have to resort to using abbreviated swearing eg WTF etc haha

[minux]

Nah WTF will be blocked under Conroys newly planned Human Speaking filter.

[OFF T4P]

This country is f**ked. It use to be the freest country in the world but its turning to sh*t real fast.

True, very true.
if your not intelligent enough to talk properly then piss off to some private place and talk like a moron.

Who says intelligent people don't swear. Just because some one is intelligent makes them no better then any one else.
its just the way Aussies are. We swear who cares. They should just get over it. It does not hurt anyone. The cops should be using there time to stop real crime's like thieves and gangs and drug dealers instead of trying to make revenue. That's labor for ya.

[davey g-force]

True, very true.

But when your on a train or bus or just sitting down in some eating area, you don't want someone nearby slinging out f*** every second word, if your not intelligent enough to talk properly then piss off to some private place and talk like a moron.

Yeah, I agree.

I can swear with the best of them when it's warranted but I can't understand why some people feel the need to drop f-bombs every second word. It's uneccessary and can be offensive.
It's getting to the point where f and other swear words are becoming commonplace and thus losing their meaning/effect. Some words need to be reserved for certain times / ocassions only. If f or c becomes normal, then what are we going to use for those times when we need the extra effect of a swear word?
People that know me know that if I'm swering my head off I'm either REALLY angry or feel REALLY passionatley about something. I spose there should be a time and a place for everything...

[acarmody]

This country is f**ked. It use to be the freest country in the world but its turning to sh*t real fast.



Who says intelligent people don't swear. Just because some one is intelligent makes them no better then any one else.
its just the way Aussies are. We swear who cares. They should just get over it. It does not hurt anyone. The cops should be using there time to stop real crime's like thieves and gangs and drug dealers instead of trying to make revenue. That's labor for ya.

While I don't argue that the current crop of politicians are a bunch of idiots, when did swearing every second word become Aussie culture? I hear people talking very offensively all the time and I for one will be happy for them to cop a fine.

OK fine lets say intelligent people swear, then its the uncivil pricks that need to pull their heads in. And as for not hurting anyone, I don't think any kids need to be hearing c's and f's dropped every second word. Also try going to elderly people home and asked if they managed to talk in thier era without swearing, because they managed just fine. Swearing constantly is offensive and unnecessary.

[minux]

I use F fairly often. If i use the c word, i am pretty pissed off.

I see no issue with swearing, it is just words.

[SS 1998]

this country everyday becoming less and less of a free country...........i dont see the point in this besides revenue
its more n more a joke of a place. next we will be fined for running down the street where heaps of people are........they will say ooo u mite knock over a little kid n hurt them

[GetToDaChopa]

Words are not going to hurt anyone. If i swear to someone in another language its not going to hurt them. Its the meaning that the person puts on the word, and YOU are responsible for taking offense to a word or not to take offense to it. So people need smarten up about language and words and need to realise that words are here perceive a meaning. So if someone swears it means they might be having a bad day, no need to take offense at someone's bad day. Fining someone for using a word that 10 (maybe more ) people in the country disapprove of, is wrong. end of argument.

[Tim Smtih]

Again with the bs. Who comes up with these laws, or more to the point, are they trying to figure out new and wonderful ways in which to piss people off? Well let me see if i can pull some out of you know where;

- Non symmetrical haircuts are not allowed on public transport.
- All offensive images are to be removed from the internet, all of them. Even pictures of Fran Drescher.
- Neapolitan ice cream reinforces the segregation of society and may cause unrest, this isn't on in a multicultural society such as Australia.
- Confusion causes chaos, therefore everything will be dumbed down to avoid stupid people running riot.

Feel free to add more, you get my point though.

[sjmcc]

Again with the bs. Who comes up with these laws, or more to the point, are they trying to figure out new and wonderful ways in which to piss people off? Well let me see if i can pull some out of you know where;

- Non symmetrical haircuts are not allowed on public transport.
- All offensive images are to be removed from the internet, all of them. Even pictures of Fran Drescher.
- Neapolitan ice cream reinforces the segregation of society and may cause unrest, this isn't on in a multicultural society such as Australia.
- Confusion causes chaos, therefore everything will be dumbed down to avoid stupid people running riot.

Feel free to add more, you get my point though.

Dear God, the Neapolitan Ice cream line has me in stitches!!

[cracker]

what will constitute a swear word...?
ass? balls? crap?

best we just ban everything i think, i love the blanket approach too legislation.

[W84N01]

hhmmmmm i'm a bit iffy on this one.

i swear like the best of them, especially at work you'd be lucky to find ANYONE that can string a sentence together with just "normal" words with no swearing. but when i'm at home, or even around any children, weather they are my own or someone elses, i tend to try not to swear. I make it a point to not swear.

i go to the shop and you can hear the way parents talk to their children......the people that live behind us need effing muzzles......the way theu speak to their young children is totally disgusting and majorly un called for.

In family events, i agree..........absolutely fine them and make them feel irrelevant.........but if you're at work, or out with other supposed "grown up adults", then you should be able to say whatever the hell you want to say. Who are we trying to impress anyway?

You have the choice to walk away and not watch or listen..............so what's the problem?

[Tree cutter]

I wonder if they count dang, crikey and flamin mongrel as swear words. We should tell the silly coots that make up these new laws to go to billio LOL