So?

So she ended up in jail and doing public service for her actions. Probably a well deserved contribution to cleaning up her attitude.

Attitude is not and should not be a jailable offense.

Maybe not in a perfect world. Since we don't live in a perfect world I have found when dealing with people who have the ability to charge you with numerous crimes that I may not be aware of, it behooves me to be as polite and calm as possible. Not to mention the fact that with our government has passed so many laws that there is no way to be aware of all of them.

I agree, in a perfect world, police would respect citizens more, and would spend their tax payer funded time catching real criminals.

Attitude may not be a 'jailable offense', but it's amazing how speaking to a police officer as-if you yourself are a mature, stable person can make the whole process go much smoother. In most circumstances if a police officer is speaking to you, you most likely did something to cause it. Or someone else perceived you as doing something that warranted the police talking to you.

Watching the TV program COPS, and having listened to a police scanner in the past, I can tell you that I couldn’t do their job. The level of stupidity, ignorance and disrespect they have to deal with would push me over the edge.

I don’t doubt for one second this woman was approached, ASKED to have her kid stop writing on the rocks, and she pulled an attitude about it being rocks, and about it being a park. And I’d wager she got lippy about the officer ‘having nothing better to do’. If she can’t act like a reasonable person, she can suffer the consequences. Perhaps someone should fine her parents for not raising her properly.

Sarcasm about what you were exactly right.

I think it's sad that you feel that we're "lucky" to have police not throw us in jail over words.

I think it's very indicative of a societal attitude that somehow police are above us or somehow their feelings are worth protecting with jail time.

If anything, police should be trained to shrug off things like that, in the interest of not furthering a confrontation.

+1
I'd add "especially", instead of "even."

I am all for free speech, I just don't believe verbally assaulting anyone is covered as protected speech. As a matter of fact assault is illegal in most states.

You can believe whatever you want Troy, the fact is curse words are protected speech, and assault is only criminal if it involves a specific threat of violence.

True, but that is what a judge and jury are for, all a police officer does is write citations and arrest you, your guilt is determined by someone else.

Exactly, but she wasn't cited for her speech or attitude towards the officer, but for the chalking.

How do I look foolish? You are the one claiming swearing is against the law, and a jailable offense. You also can't seem to be bothered by going to a reputable site like findlaw.com, to do your legal research, instead using google. Then you can't be bothered to post which articles you supposedly read, so that we can also read them and see where you are getting your foolish knowledge. So far your only source is that one time 25 years ago when you saw a cop threaten someone. Here's news: cops can threaten you with whatever they want! It doesn't necessarily mean they are backed up by the law!

By the way, I did research swearing in public. Some municipalities do indeed have these archaic laws on the books, but guess what? Most of them are being challenged on their constitutionality, haven't been used in years or are not jailable offenses, simply a civil penalty, like a parking ticket.

Thanks for calling me foolish Karl.
P.S. You don't start a paragraph with "And."

So I can use the "N" word because it is protected speech. I dare not spell it or Melanie will sanction my account again. Freedom of speech was to keep political debate free of sanction... Not to allow rude disrespectful trash freedom to verbally asalt people even if they are employed with our taxes. It was meant to protect this type of behavior against the fools elected to be nothing but slimy politicians. Now, Mathew, let's show the world our freedom of speech and say the "N" word together or can you just say hypocrite?????

On others property it is vandalism or graffiti, tagging. If you wrote the "N" word in washable chalk then it would be hate speech and a hate crime. So yes I am saying that, in our brave new politely correct world, there are illegal words. But only illegal if you are a straight white Christian. What say you Matt???????

Robert, where is that true? Not federally that's for sure. Show me proof of someone who has been arrested simply for swearing in public.

Matthew go down to your local police station walk into the lobby and start swearing and let us know how that turns out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUWi-91yY4c
"It took police nearly ten minutes to arrest a man for "swearing in a park," even though that is considered free speech, according to a couple of fairly recent court cases.
The incident occurred in Hidden Beach in Minneapolis, which was once a renowned nude beach and is still is known for it's laid-back and unpretentious party atmosphere.
However, park police apparently do not tolerate swearing, which prompted them to attempt to arrest the man in the above video.
The foul-mouthed man did not want to be arrested, so he grabbed his cooler and attempted to walk away with a pair of cops blocking his path.
At one point, the two cops wrestled the man to the ground, but the man still managed to get back on his feet and attempt to walk away.
So after more cops are called to the scene, three cops manage to control him.

Massachusetts state law does allow towns to enforce local laws that give police the power to arrest anyone who "addresses another person with profane or obscene language" in a public place. General Laws: CHAPTER 272, Section 59

Matthew you never said anything about conviction you had said they could not arrest you for swearing in public not could the get a conviction big difference I said the could arrest you.

+1 Jim

Jim unfortunately people in this country have been giving up their right ever sense 9-11 for a feeling of security amd we are no safer now then we were then.