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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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State Police Swear Off Profanity Arrests

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Friday, January 7, 2011   

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania State Police are swearing off giving people citations for using profanity, following a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Mary Catherine Roper, an ACLU attorney, says cursing at a police officer is not something a person should end up in jail for doing.

"It's not always the wisest thing to do, it's not always the polite thing to do, but we shouldn't find ourselves facing a criminal citation because of it."

The ACLU says Pennsylvania State Police issued 770 profanity citations over a one-year period. She hopes that number will be brought down substantially through across-the-board training, "both for brand-new troopers and for existing troopers as they come in for their retraining."

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a Pennsylvania woman who was cited for swearing at a motorcyclist she says swerved toward her as she was walking. The ACLU argued that profanity is protected by First Amendment free-speech rights, no matter who it is aimed at. State police have agreed to let troopers know they cannot charge citizens for swearing and to provide additional training on the matter.

Roper is happy with the changes the state police have agreed to make, but the organization will be monitoring to be sure profanity is treated as constitutionally protected language.

"It doesn't matter whether you're cursing at a passing motorist or at a police officer, it still can't be the subject of a criminal citation."




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