Bad Behaviour Bylaw

[Crazy Flamer]

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/...51566-sun.html

Anyone hear about this?

Is this a good idea or merely another example of government sticking their nose where it doesn't belong?

[habernac]

unenforceable. I spit on their new bylaw.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by habernac

unenforceable. I spit on their new bylaw.

Unenforceable, and unconstitutional... they can't fine people for swearing. It violates free speech... stupid, stupid, stupid. The City should be ashamed of themselves for making such a rookie mistake.

[troutman]

Spitting?

Saliva has health benefits:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=33215

[Crazy Flamer]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Unenforceable, and unconstitutional... they can't fine people for swearing. It violates free speech... stupid, stupid, stupid. The City should be ashamed of themselves for making such a rookie mistake.

Freedom of speach is not absolute. But to be honest, I'm not sure whether a bylaw like this really does violate the Charter.

[Shazam]

"You are fined one credit for a violation of the Verbal Morality Statute."

Other cities in Canada do have similar laws and apparently they have helped with unruly behaviour.

And Craig Burrows needs to read Freakonomics...

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Crazy Flamer

Freedom of speach is not absolute. But to be honest, I'm not sure whether a bylaw like this really does violate the Charter.

It does. Common swear words are also words in the dictionary. We're not talking about hatemongering statements, we're talking about individual words that are considered a part of the English language, vulgar or not.

[RougeUnderoos]

Silly me. I thought brawling was already illegal. And I would have saved myself many embarassing situations if I had known taking a dump in public wasn't against the rules.

[Thunderball]

Honestly, most of this law is fine.

No fighting and no public urination/defecation are common sense laws. No spitting is fair too, of course, there's a few logical exceptions (sports come to mind).

No swearing is where it gets stupid.

[Crazy Flamer]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

It does. Common swear words are also words in the dictionary. We're not talking about hatemongering statements, we're talking about individual words that are considered a part of the English language, vulgar or not.

True enough. If that's the case then I completely agree with you. Shame on the city.

[Superfraggle]

The only place it says anything about swearing is in the sub-title. The stuff mentioned in the rest of the article is mostly fine...the two things sticking out as silly for me being "standing on public benches" and "spitting". Spitting at people is one thing, but are they going to swing by games and fine entire baseball teams?!!! Could be a big cash cow if they do, I suppose. .

edit: Thunderball got to the sports bit before I could post. grrrrr.

[Superfraggle]

One other thing that just caught my eye...carrying a visible knife. Obviously in many cases this is a bad thing, but I have a knife on my PFD, for example...it's a safety thing (for things like rope entanglements, not other paddlers). Under this bylaw, couldn't they technically fine me for that?

[Shazam]

Just hide your knife

[Flash Walken]

what about a law against throwing cigarette butts on the ground?

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

what about a law against throwing cigarette butts on the ground?

That's already covered under the littering bylaw.

[Cowperson]

It's an interesting question: "Is it possible to be well-mannered and homeless?"

The point of this bylaw appears to concede that the most likely answer is "no."

Cowperson

[Cheese]

Its obviously CalgaryPucks fault...they read the Drunken Antics thread.

City council moved ahead with the bylaw yesterday that would impose fines for those caught brawling, spitting, loitering, defecating or urinating in public after meeting with the city's law department behind closed doors.

Wait! Its all Reapers fault...send out the lynching party!

[Looger]

**** this law.

[V]

Huh, I spit all the time when I'm outside. I guess I better be more careful next time I'm downtown.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Unenforceable, and unconstitutional... they can't fine people for swearing. It violates free speech... stupid, stupid, stupid. The City should be ashamed of themselves for making such a rookie mistake.

You can be charged under the criminal code as per Causing a Disturbance for swearing. Check it out.

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.