Swearing has been a punishable offence in Victoria since 1966 but the new laws introduced by the Baillieu government in an initiative to curb violence on Melbourne's streets, could find you $240 out of pocket. Fines will be slapped on if swearing is deemed indecent, disorderly, offensive or threatening and it doesn't even have to have been overheard for a fine to occur. (Not 100% sure how that last one works)
The Baillieu Government and the Victorian Police are hoping that the fines will deter people from swearing which is usually accompanied with aggressive behaviour. Attorney-General Robert Clarke told The Age that the reasoning behind the new incentives was to free up police workloads and keep things out of the courts. He said: "It frees up police time for other law enforcement activities and enables them to more readily issue penalties against those offenders who deserve them."
To me this is a band aid tactic by the Baillieu Government when their time and energy could be better spent. Despite the fact that swearing has been a criminal act since '66, I don't think this is something that people should be fined for. The Victorian Government is going to have a very big swear jar. I agree that aggressive behaviour should be punishable, but who decides when swearing at someone has gone too far? When the f word is followed by a punch? Or when you trip and say oh shit?
Your thoughts?
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