Taber AB bans swearing and public assembly at police discretion

[cam_wmh]

I'd like to point out, that both Calgarypuck, and Taber have bans on swearing.

LOL

[Slava]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Here's a list of fine able offences under the new bylaw:

First offence penalties for infractions under Taber’s Community Standards Bylaw 4-2015:

Parent/guardian allow minor in public place during curfew: $100

Placing graffiti on property:$2,500

Failure to remove graffiti: $250

Urinating/depositing human waste in public place: $250

Spitting in public place: $75

Fighting in a public place: $250

Being a member of an assembly and failing to disperse as directed by a peace officer: $250

Loitering: $250

Panhandling: $75

Yelling, screaming or swearing: $150

Drinking establishment making noise: $2,000

Allow, suffer or permit noise likely to disturb others: $150

Allow, suffer or permit noise from premises or property: $150

Allow, suffer or permit noise from vehicle: $150

Activate or apply engine ######er brakes: $150

Allow or permit noise between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.: $150

http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blo...ng-or-swearing

So no more public washrooms in Taber?

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Slava

So no more public washrooms in Taber?

No, and definitely not in groups of 3 or more!

[blueski]

This just makes it official what we knew all along - that everyone in Taber is a criminal.

[Buff]

They'll make a major influx of cash during Taber Corn Fest.

[snowshoe]

Could make for a good project for the high school social studies class on how to stand up for your rights.

But for someone to 'suffer' noise and be fined? If I'm ok with my neighbor having a bbq/party in his back yard then I get fined too?

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Here's a list of fine able offences under the new bylaw:

First offence penalties for infractions under Taber’s Community Standards Bylaw 4-2015:

Parent/guardian allow minor in public place during curfew: $100

Placing graffiti on property:$2,500

Failure to remove graffiti: $250

Urinating/depositing human waste in public place: $250

Spitting in public place: $75

Fighting in a public place: $250

Being a member of an assembly and failing to disperse as directed by a peace officer: $250

Loitering: $250

Panhandling: $75

Yelling, screaming or swearing: $150

Drinking establishment making noise: $2,000

Allow, suffer or permit noise likely to disturb others: $150

Allow, suffer or permit noise from premises or property: $150

Allow, suffer or permit noise from vehicle: $150

Activate or apply engine ######er brakes: $150

Allow or permit noise between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.: $150

http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blo...ng-or-swearing

[polak]

Pulled from the comments:

Section 2 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms:

2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
(a) freedom of conscience and religion;
(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
(c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
(d) freedom of association.

So this would never hold up in any court. Someone go march down the street in Taber with a massive sign that says "Go #### Yourself, Taber"?

We need at least 4 volunteers.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

I'd like to point out, that both Calgarypuck, and Taber have bans on swearing.

LOL

Private vs public.

Also, there are definitely more than 3 of us here.

[Minnie]

I'd love to see a sit-in/swear-in at their town hall. That would be very funny.

[Jimmy Stang]

So effectively any outdoor sport is now illegal in Taber. Without even getting into the swearing and pissing (it isn't a swear on CP, but is it in Taber?), it is impossible to play outdoor sports without simple noise and assembly. I haven't read the law in detail, but I doubt that they thought to include exemptions for common activities that might be caught in their net of righteousness.

So the old curmudgeon who lives beside the field can call the cops and get that game shut down before anyone even makes a sound on the simple grounds that they might make a sound. Obviously we're not going to see it enforced like that, but it just shows how poorly thought out this thing was.

[RedMileDJ]

nm

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by snowshoe

Could make for a good project for the high school social studies class on how to stand up for your rights.

But for someone to 'suffer' noise and be fined? If I'm ok with my neighbor having a bbq/party in his back yard then I get fined too?

In this context, it's more about being associated with the 'wrong-doer'

An apt comparison would be at the party but not necessarily the loud drunk, you could still be fined.

[Titan]

Taber chief administrative officer Greg Birch said the bylaw was drafted in part by the Taber Police Service “to provide for better and more consistent oversight, bylaw enforcement and policing of various matters,” according to town council minutes.

First, how in God's name does a town the size of Taber have its own police force? Second, why would you let them write the bylaw?

Wow.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Here's a list of fine able offences under the new bylaw:

First offence penalties for infractions under Taber’s Community Standards Bylaw 4-2015:

Parent/guardian allow minor in public place during curfew: $100

Placing graffiti on property:$2,500

Failure to remove graffiti: $250

Urinating/depositing human waste in public place: $250

Spitting in public place: $75

Fighting in a public place: $250

Being a member of an assembly and failing to disperse as directed by a peace officer: $250

Loitering: $250

Panhandling: $75

Yelling, screaming or swearing: $150

Drinking establishment making noise: $2,000

Allow, suffer or permit noise likely to disturb others: $150

Allow, suffer or permit noise from premises or property: $150

Allow, suffer or permit noise from vehicle: $150

Activate or apply engine ######er brakes: $150

Allow or permit noise between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.: $150

http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blo...ng-or-swearing

lol basically everyone better stay in and watch netflix. Did they sponsor this bill?

[Derek Sutton]

Most of the bylaws were already in place and are pretty standard in any town or city, obviously the swearing and failure to disburse bylaws are the one people will have problems with. Two things here 1) There is a heavy mormon presence in town which obviously has some pull with town council and, 2) There is also a heavy Mexican Mennonite population which these bylaws are directly targeted towards. Taber is a pretty traditional small town and they are trying to find a way to stay that way.

[jar_e]

Though this seems shocking, Calgary has bylaws that aren't too far removed from this.

Graffiti ticket for an adult is $5000, youth is $1000.

There's bylaws for spitting in public, fighting in public, loitering, panhandling.

None for assembly or swearing, but to be fair, swearing and yelling can actually be a criminal offence under the criminal code.

Causing disturbance, indecent exhibition, loitering, etc.

• 175. (1) Every one who
  • (a) not being in a dwelling-house, causes a disturbance in or near a public place,
    • (i) by fighting, screaming, shouting, swearing, singing or using insulting or obscene language,
    • (ii) by being drunk, or
    • (iii) by impeding or molesting other persons,
  • (b) openly exposes or exhibits an indecent exhibition in a public place,
  • (c) loiters in a public place and in any way obstructs persons who are in that place, or
  • (d) disturbs the peace and quiet of the occupants of a dwelling-house by discharging firearms or by other disorderly conduct in a public place or who, not being an occupant of a dwelling-house comprised in a particular building or structure, disturbs the peace and quiet of the occupants of a dwelling-house comprised in the building or structure by discharging firearms or by other disorderly conduct in any part of a building or structure to which, at the time of such conduct, the occupants of two or more dwelling-houses comprised in the building or structure have access as of right or by invitation, express or implied,
  is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

So before people start jumping on the "this is against the charter" bandwagon, there's significant caselaw for cause a disturbance charges, stating that swearing in public can be a criminal code offense.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

Most of the bylaws were already in place and are pretty standard in any town or city, obviously the swearing and failure to disburse bylaws are the one people will have problems with. Two things here 1) There is a heavy mormon presence in town which obviously has some pull with town council and, 2) There is also a heavy Mexican Mennonite population which these bylaws are directly targeted towards. Taber is a pretty traditional small town and they are trying to find a way to stay that way.

I've always wondered when a part of rural Alberta would enact a "#### the other" law of some sort.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by jar_e

So before people start jumping on the "this is against the charter" bandwagon, there's significant caselaw for cause a disturbance charges, stating that swearing in public can be a criminal code offense.

I think that the Charter talk is centred around the assembly part. You're right that many cities have bylaws about swearing, spitting, urinating, etc. and I can understand why. But banning peaceful assembly is definitely a constitutional issue, no question.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

I think that the Charter talk is centred around the assembly part. You're right that many cities have bylaws about swearing, spitting, urinating, etc. and I can understand why. But banning peaceful assembly is definitely a constitutional issue, no question.

My bad, I was referring to more so the comments on the bottom of the Metro article, not so much people in this thread.

[polak]

Is the case law regarding flagrant swearing? What if I accidently hurt myself and yell ####?