The Victorian government is planning to introduce new laws which will allow the police to levy fines of up to $240 for people caught using "indecent or offensive" language in public.
In a bid to clamp down on vulgar Victorians, these new powers will allow the police to take on the spot action against sweary citizens. Offensive language has technically been an offence in Victoria since 1966. But given that swearers previously had to be hauled before the courts to be punished punishment, the police quite frankly couldn't be f*cked to charge anyone.
But in 2008, the Labor government introduced a trial period during which police were able to issue on the spot fines for bad language. During which time 793 Victorians were forced to cough up for indecent language. And the experiment is now likely to be enshrined in law when it goes before parliament this week, according to an ABC report. Henceforth a naughty word could well mean having to add a couple of hundred dollars to the State's swear box.
And the legislation is pretty all-encompassing. The scope of the act is wide enough to include the following situations:
This could be something of a money-spinner: even church-going ex-PM Kevin Rudd had his own "indecent" outburst on national TV when he warned the country to expect a "political sh*t-storm".
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In a bid to clamp down on vulgar Victorians, these new powers will allow the police to take on the spot action against sweary citizens. Offensive language has technically been an offence in Victoria since 1966. But given that swearers previously had to be hauled before the courts to be punished punishment, the police quite frankly couldn't be f*cked to charge anyone.
But in 2008, the Labor government introduced a trial period during which police were able to issue on the spot fines for bad language. During which time 793 Victorians were forced to cough up for indecent language. And the experiment is now likely to be enshrined in law when it goes before parliament this week, according to an ABC report. Henceforth a naughty word could well mean having to add a couple of hundred dollars to the State's swear box.
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Collecting fines yesterday |
And the legislation is pretty all-encompassing. The scope of the act is wide enough to include the following situations:
- A flustered driver letting off steam with an expletive (highways count as public places)
- A bit of blue language in a comedian's set
- Some naughty words amongst mates down the pub
- A sweary song on the sidelines of a football ground.
This could be something of a money-spinner: even church-going ex-PM Kevin Rudd had his own "indecent" outburst on national TV when he warned the country to expect a "political sh*t-storm".