PUNTA GORDA, Fla.- A new sign ordinance banning vulgar language is obtaining pushback in Punta Gorda.
Police are now issuing citations for the new ordinance that bans obscene language appearing on signs, outfits and much more.
Experiences show eight citations have been handed out, a few of those people included monetary fines. Of the five warnings and a few fines, only one human being received a good of $200 for a 2nd or subsequent offense.
Hilary Caskey did not obtain a great, but was warned by Punta Gorda law enforcement for carrying a shirt with vulgar language on it.
“We were being approached by the officer who told us we had been not permitted to wear no-no phrases on our shirts,” Caskey explained.
Her shirt stated, “Apparently I have an frame of mind, who f****** understood?”
Caskey reported someone was offended and called the police, which resulted in the warning.
She believes the new ordinance is unconstitutional.
“One man’s vulgarity is another man’s lyric,” Caskey said. “Just for the reason that you do not like the phrase doesn’t imply it is any fewer safeguarded.”
The ordinance reads:
“Any indication which contains obscene language or graphics and any indicator containing fighting terms or indecent speech which is legible from any public right-of-way or inside any community area, and which can perhaps be seen by small children underneath the age of 17. This provision contains signs or flags in or on any automobile, vessel or on any clothing and accouterments.”
“I have the appropriate to say what I want to say and dress in what I want to don. Time period,” Caskey explained.
Regional attorney Scott Weinberg believes it goes versus the supreme court ruling Cohen compared to California — which rules a person could not be charged for sporting a shirt with the f word on it.
“While the city council’s coronary heart is in the correct area when it arrives to the first modification Us citizens have a suitable to be rude to their neighbors,” Weinberg explained. “You know the town council, by passing this, has opened up a can of worms. There’s going to be lawsuits. It’s heading to cost the town a great deal much more income and they are likely to eliminate. It is just that very simple.”
At the metropolis council assembly when this was accredited, councilors said this shields initially modification rights whilst addressing citizen considerations.
Michael Hirsh spoke to town council about the concern stating if they handed it, there will be lawsuits.
“City Attorney David Levin produced it obvious that you simply cannot regulate content, and then they went forward and did that,” Hirsh said.
Hirsh claimed he feels terrible for the cop who has to tell an individual to transform their shirt or get a citation.
“The work of the police is to implement the rules that are on the publications.. the law enforcement really don’t seriously have a preference,” Hirsh stated.
Town officials have not nonetheless responded to request for remark.