US legal question

[aphid 0]

This might seem frivolous, but trust me it's not.

I'm curious, if I encounter a federal or state employee, from USPS to USCBP or any point between, and if I become intolerant and I neglect to filter my words...

And should I use profanity to indicate my vehement displeasure or question their intelligence, parentage, or just their right to waste precious oxygen, is that a criminal offense? Perhaps a misdemeanor?

I read the news and I am continually surprised at citizens being charged with offenses for things I consider inconsequential, and I recognize that my verbal contempt might be problematic.

John

[AggieDave 6]

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And should I use profanity to indicate my vehement displeasure or question their intelligence, parentage, or just their right to waste precious oxygen, is that a criminal offense? Perhaps a misdemeanor?

It depends, local laws differ. In Texas it can be disorderly conduct if you use language that could be offensive to someone, in a public place. It's a Class C misdemeanor which means you could be cited (like a traffic violation) or you could be arrested for the offense.

I have personally found that firm, but polite language gets a lot more accomplished in the short term and the long term. Vulgarity in such situations is often viewed as a lack of control and education.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[aphid 0]

Thank you for the information. I'll be circumspect.

[Kennedy 0]

In North Carolina, depending on the severity of your action and the disruption it causes, it could be disorderly conduct. Also, in all but two or three counties it is illegal to use profanity on public property or right of way in the hearing of three or more people (speaker and officer can be counted, so it only takes one bystander).

Doesn't mean you have to be charged, but continued behavior after the officer arrives, or aiming such language at an officer, especially after being given the chance to leave, could raise the chance of citation or arrest.

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
1*

[jimbrown 0]

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This might seem frivolous, but trust me it's not.

I'm curious, if I encounter a federal or state employee, from USPS to USCBP or any point between, and if I become intolerant and I neglect to filter my words...




LOL! Save your breath Mon! Just lay back ,Mon. Save your breath!
Sit in this rocking chair without rockin for a bit Mon.
Try some of this ganja!
Everything is alright Mon

Peace,
Jim B



And should I use profanity to indicate my vehement displeasure or question their intelligence, parentage, or just their right to waste precious oxygen, is that a criminal offense? Perhaps a misdemeanor?

I read the news and I am continually surprised at citizens being charged with offenses for things I consider inconsequential, and I recognize that my verbal contempt might be problematic.

John

[popsjumper 2]

Doesn't matter how you handle it. "They" can come up with a reason to arrest you or have you arrested...and that's not frivolous.

...and then "they" wonder why it's an Us vs Them country.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[RickH 0]

In my past law enforcement experience ( retired after 26 years in Florida), the use of profanity has always been used to object in firm displeasure of my presence. However, it is all in the way you deliver your message,....if you do it in a non-threatning way without causing a disturbance..." Excuse me officer, i think you are an asshole". Perfectly acceptable behavior....go to Chris Rock's youtube " what not to say to an officer"....

[freethefly 6]

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In my past law enforcement experience ( retired after 26 years in Florida), the use of profanity has always been used to object in firm displeasure of my presence. However, it is all in the way you deliver your message,....if you do it in a non-threatning way without causing a disturbance..." Excuse me officer, i think you are an asshole". Perfectly acceptable behavior....go to Chris Rock's youtube " what not to say to an officer"....

In the military, you begin with "With all due respect Sir, I think you are being a fucking asshole." I said it to the XO and got away with it.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[AggieDave 6]

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In my past law enforcement experience ( retired after 26 years in Florida), the use of profanity has always been used to object in firm displeasure of my presence. However, it is all in the way you deliver your message,....if you do it in a non-threatning way without causing a disturbance..." Excuse me officer, i think you are an asshole". Perfectly acceptable behavior....go to Chris Rock's youtube " what not to say to an officer"....

In the military, you begin with "With all due respect Sir, I think you are being a fucking asshole." I said it to the XO and got away with it.

Out in the civilian world, the similar conversation starts with "You know I pay your salary..." It can also start "I don't want to argue, but..."

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Niki1 1]

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In my past law enforcement experience ( retired after 26 years in Florida), the use of profanity has always been used to object in firm displeasure of my presence. However, it is all in the way you deliver your message,....if you do it in a non-threatning way without causing a disturbance..." Excuse me officer, i think you are an asshole". Perfectly acceptable behavior....go to Chris Rock's youtube " what not to say to an officer"....

A long time ago a friend with much more experience in this are than I have told me a lesson he had learned. When he quit calling the officers "dumb motherfuckers" they quit hitting him (as hard).

Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossilbe before they were done.
Louis D Brandeis

Where are we going and why are we in this basket?

[Andy9o8 2]

Little or no difference to how "disorderly conduct" works in Canada. Disorderly conduct under the Criminal Code of Canada is pretty much the same as it is under the laws of most US states, and it is used, and sometimes abused, by Canadian police pretty much the same as it is by US police. Canadian courts struggle with the fine line/grey area between freedom of speech and unlawful disorderly conduct (especially public profanity) pretty much the same way US courts generally do. So, if you understand the way "disorderly conduct" works in Canada, you pretty much understand how it works in the US, too.

[aphid 0]

Actually I was thinking along the lines of just a one-on-one encounter with a government employee. Could be at the DMV, the post office, a meter-maid in town, a routine traffic stop, whatever.

I have been known to utter "with all due respect, are you a (expletive deleted) moron!?" or other words to similar effect.

I've never once felt I risked being arrested. Or receiving a nightstick to the side of the head.

Judging from some the of the responses, I'll keep my opinions to myself in the future.

[Andy9o8 2]

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Actually I was thinking along the lines of just a one-on-one encounter with a government employee. Could be at the DMV, the post office, a meter-maid in town, a routine traffic stop, whatever.

I have been known to utter "with all due respect, are you a (expletive deleted) moron!?" or other words to similar effect.

I've never once felt I risked being arrested. Or receiving a nightstick to the side of the head.

Judging from some the of the responses, I'll keep my opinions to myself in the future.

Look, I have a temper, too, and a low ability to suffer fools gladly. I'm easily annoyed when the person behind the counter or on the other end of the phone is being dumb. Speaking to you (with all due respect!) as someone over 50 myself, if by your age you'd allow your temper to reach your lips to a cop during a traffic stop, your main issue is not a legal one. Put another way, I don't just want you to avoid needing to have this conversation with a lawyer, I want you to avoid needing to have it with a cardiologist.

Here's a vignette I passed-on to my kids when they were teenagers. When I was about 19, I had a dispute with a shop-keeper. He was wrong, and I was right, and he was ripping me off; but I lost my temper and swore at him in front of his adult daughter. She told me, "You'd better leave right now." When I filed a complaint against him with the Better Business Bureau, the daughter's response didn't rebut my dispute, it focused on my yelling and swearing at her dad. I really had no defense to my conduct - game over. I realized then, that no matter how right I was, once I had I lost my temper, I had lost.

Peace, man.

[billvon 2,990]

>if by your age you'd allow your temper to reach your lips to a cop during a traffic stop,
>your main issue is not a legal one.

True story -

Years ago I was landing in the main Perris landing area. I was being careful because I was on final and was on level with (and pulling ahead of) Julie, a friend of mine. From above and behind me a camera guy came screaming in just as he was rolling out of his 270, headed almost right at me. I moved over as much as I could without running into Julie. He saw me at the last minute, turned away, and biffed the landing, hard.

I landed. He took off his camera helmet and stomped over, dragging his canopy. "What the FUCK is wrong with you! Why don't you open your fucking eyes! You're supposed to be an AFF instructor, do you teach your students this crap? You asshole!"

"I didn't see you until the last minute; we should be looking at each other more I guess."

"Goddamn right! Get your head out of your ass next time!" he said as he stomped off.

Julie came over. "What was that all about?"

Me: "I don't know. You were next to me; weren't we both just coming straight in on final?"

Julie: "Yep. I didn't see him either."

Me: "That's what I thought."

Julie: "But he was screaming at you and you didn't respond to him."

Me: "I could have yelled back; seems like the wrong time for it though."

She looked at me for a few seconds. "I'm impressed," she finally said.

So it can help with chicks, too!

[RickH 0]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0mtxXEGE8

I think this will help!

[freethefly 6]

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"You know I pay your salary..." It can also start "I don't want to argue, but..."

Which is immediately followed by 10 police officers slamming you to the ground yelling "STOP RESISTING" while they slam their knees into your back, a few kicks to the head, and a complimentary tazzing

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[AggieDave 6]

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and a complimentary tazzing

Oh, that would be a good t-shirt: "Please ask about our complimentary tazing"


COPS doesn't really show the real life on the other side of the badge. Super Troopers and Reno 911 does a much better job of it!

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[freethefly 6]

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and a complimentary tazzing

Oh, that would be a good t-shirt: "Please ask about our complimentary tazing"


COPS doesn't really show the real life on the other side of the badge. Super Troopers and Reno 911 does a much better job of it!

You owe me a mouthful of Rip It Energy Fuel. Thanks.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[Davy 0]

In Maryland it would be disorderly conduct because of the language, nothing to do with respect to the persons status as a government employee. The exception is police officers who's peace by law can't be disturbed. Essentially you could call the officer who just issued you the citation all the kinda MFr's you like so long as no one else can hear you. Trick is, if others can't hear you, odds are they can't see you and you'll have no witness's to your beating...hope this helped.

Bad Monkey!!!

[freethefly 6]

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Trick is, if others can't hear you, odds are they can't see you and you'll have no witness's to your beating...hope this helped.

Be sure to ask for your complimentary tazing!

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[AggieDave 6]

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Trick is, if others can't hear you, odds are they can't see you and you'll have no witness's to your beating...hope this helped.

Be sure to ask for your complimentary tazing!

And ask about how you can take your very own Aphids home to cherish the experience with...

Ok, seriously, every contact with a citizen is recorded by at least audio, typically audio and video. That is to protect ME from the citizen. Departments now days will crucify an officer if a citizen makes a false complaint and it is their word verses the officer! Even officers with a long track record of being a good officer. People get angry and call in to complain on officers with the most outrageous things. They think that if they complain on the officer their speeding ticket (or whatever) will get dropped. People feel really stupid when they're asked to come in and watch themselves make an ass of themselves on video, then having lied about the experience and the officer.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Davy 0]

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Trick is, if others can't hear you, odds are they can't see you and you'll have no witness's to your beating...hope this helped.

Be sure to ask for your complimentary tazing!

problem with Tazers are that they shoot out hundreds of little pieces of paper that identify that cartridge and who it was issued to, if your good you can cover the name plate with one hand while swinging the asp with the other...hold still, I need to asp you a few questions...

Bad Monkey!!!

[AggieDave 6]

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Trick is, if others can't hear you, odds are they can't see you and you'll have no witness's to your beating...hope this helped.

Be sure to ask for your complimentary tazing!

problem with Tazers are that they shoot out hundreds of little pieces of paper that identify that cartridge and who it was issued to

Sort of, it has the serial number of the cartridge (so a department could trace it back through their records, IF they keep that information) and they're called APHIDS, my previous was sort of an inside joke about that entire concept.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Davy 0]

departments need to use the "false statement to cause police investigation" more when they find they person is lying...cop lies? bye retirement, citizen lies? cop gets cleared...hmm something missing there

Bad Monkey!!!

[Davy 0]

How many cops did it take to throw the man down the stairs?

Bad Monkey!!!