It’s easy to get frustrated if you’re stopped, especially if you know you’ve done something wrong.
- Do you swear to the payment operator? Hotel receptionist? ARE NOT? Then don’t curse at the police!
- You may be fined if your behavior is considered offensive
- Remember – the police are just doing their job
But if you want to curse someone, curse yourself – not the cop who stopped you – unless you want to get in more trouble with the law.
What you consider swearing and what others might find offensive may be two completely different things, but Lawyer LY claims that a lawsuit in 1951 paved the way for swearing laws in Australia and that it’s not just naughty four-letter words that can put you in conflict.
Anything that could be considered “violent, threatening, disorderly, or offensive language” is used to induce “anger, offense, disgust, or resentment in an ordinary person, and reasonable among members of our community” could be considered offensive. Furthermore, “violation of standards of good character or good manners” has also been considered part of the rule book in Australian courts.
So tell the officer who just placed you that they are a detonate a bomb you may have a little more trouble than the original penalty and demerit points you lined up.
CarExpert spoke to a NSW Police officer who said that by swearing at an officer, you are “doing no good to yourself”, and you could technically be charged with a crime. , especially if your vulgar language can be heard in English. in public and/or by members of the public.
If you curse at the police, you can be fined on the spot, or even arrested and taken to the police station. If that happens, you could face trial, and – in the worst case scenario – be jailed for up to six months.
It’s clearly a situation where you’ll have to struggle to find yourself in it, but just be aware that under the Crime Summary Act, a public place can include places like a street streets, recreation areas, and publicly funded buildings. And really, really make sure you don’t lose your cool in front of schools, as they are considered a ‘zero tolerance’ zone.
Fines can be up to $1250, depending on the state (South Australia is the strictest!), while in Victoria or Queensland, the penalty can be up to six months in prison.
In short, then – support yourself – don’t curse the police.
