Va Beach no cursing law

[pilot_man]

Does anyone know how the city of Virginia Beach can get away with their no profanity law? It just doesn’t seem like it would hold up in a higher court, but it is just a ticket so who is going to fight it anyways. :devil_125

 

[rare21]

crap thats serious (a ticket) ??? i've seen those signs around but thought nothing of them.

 

[HeyJoe]

But will it be enforced?

crap thats serious (a ticket) ??? i've seen those signs around but thought nothing of them.

I just ran outside to test the law by shouting several expletives deleted. Nothing happened.

 

[KimberlyD]

I didn't know they were giving tickets for it now, when the signs went up it was just to "remind" people that VB Oceanfront is "family friendly". They'll probably write tickets & pat themselves on the back & then have someone challenge it like the red light cameras were...

 

[Steve Wilkins]

Does anyone know how the city of Virginia Beach can get away with their no profanity law? It just doesn’t seem like it would hold up in a higher court, but it is just a ticket so who is going to fight it anyways. :devil_125

Is that sign supposed to seriously convey that no cursing is allowed? I don't know what I would have thought had I seen those without reading this post first. Certainly, I wouldn't have thought of no cursing. Most likely, I would have been walking down the street and then after seeing that sign I'd probably look over to my wife and say something like, "What the fvck is that?"

 

[Snacks]

I believe that Michigan actually made this a law a few years ago, and some guy was busted for cursing in front of a family w/ small children. I believe he had to pay a fine and maybe spent some time in the pokey, but right now I'm too lazy to do a search.

 

[BOMBSonHAWKEYES]

Ah yes. The good samaritan law. When I first saw those signs I thought it was some kind of promotion for one of those freak art shows that frequent the boardwalk.

There are a few blocks of Salt Lake City where these kind of laws exist and I've heard are enforced.

 

[pennst8]

Like the kiddies weren't gonna hear it elsewhere?

I understand the whole basic courtesy thing to not curse in front of kids. I watch myself when I see them (or old people) around, and I understand that cursing excessively makes you sound like a moron. However, the idea of a ban is among the stupidest things I've ever heard.

Maybe VA Beach should focus on not losing the air station instead of screwing around on things like this.

In conclusion, Fvck fvckity fvck fvck! What's that? A ticket? Fvck the police...

 

[Fred]

Like the kiddies weren't gonna hear it elsewhere?

I understand the whole basic courtesy thing to not curse in front of kids. I watch myself when I see them (or old people) around, and I understand that cursing excessively makes you sound like a moron. However, the idea of a ban is among the stupidest things I've ever heard.

Maybe VA Beach should focus on not losing the air station instead of screwing around on things like this.

In conclusion, Fvck fvckity fvck fvck! What's that? A ticket? Fvck the police...

Those signs have been up for years. Long before BRAC was looking at Oceana.

 

[HeyJoe]

Failed law

Appears to be a total failure...showed to my significant other and she said "@$#!! them". Called the police to report her and they declined to respond.

:icon_wink

 

[Brett327]

I'd be interested in seeing what kind of legal reasoning they came up with to justify that the law isn't infringing on 1st amendment rights. I suspect that if anyone had the time/money/motivation to challenge this law, it would probably fall on those grounds.

Brett

 

[esday1]

I'd be interested in seeing what kind of legal reasoning they came up with to justify that the law isn't infringing on 1st amendment rights. I suspect that if anyone had the time/money/motivation to challenge this law, it would probably fall on those grounds.

Brett

It might have something to do with this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C.C._v._Pacifica_Foundation

If you were going to challenge the law, you'd probably rely on this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cohen_v._California

I think the VA beach law only applies to Atlantic Ave and the Boardwalk, so they might say that it's just a "time, place, or manner" restriction that the Supreme Court has been willing to uphold in other contexts (e.g. laws prohibiting strip clubs within a certain distance from schools). So, in this case the law would be restricted to the big tourist areas where there would likely be kids around. Apparently you can still say whatever the fvck you want elsewhere in VA beach.

 

[Brett327]

It might have something to do with this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C.C._v._Pacifica_Foundation

If you were going to challenge the law, you'd probably rely on this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cohen_v._California

I think the VA beach law only applies to Atlantic Ave and the Boardwalk, so they might say that it's just a "time, place, or manner" restriction that the Supreme Court has been willing to uphold in other contexts (e.g. laws prohibiting strip clubs within a certain distance from schools). So, in this case the law would be restricted to the big tourist areas where there would likely be kids around. Apparently you can still say whatever the fvck you want elsewhere in VA beach.

Interesting stuff, although I would argue that there is a significant difference between state interests in regulating content of a federally licensed broadcast facility and what Joe Schmo can utter in public.

Brett

 

[Tujin]

Yeah, its a $50 fine. Friend of mine screamed an obscenity at one of the signs, and a cop on a bike happened to be nearby, he got a ticket. I think its only down at the Oceanfront, but I've seen those signs at Lynnhaven mall. I think someone just put the stickers up there, though.

 

[A4sForever]

Makes me glad I live in the Territory and on the Rock.

I think I'll go outside and hurl curses at the neighbor's cat .... :icon_rast