Change We Need: Cussing on Public Streets
North Carolina General Statute 14-197 makes it a Class 3 misdemeanor to yell cuss words on public streets if two or more people can hear you, unless you happen to be in Pitt or Swain County, where you may cuss to your heart’s content. As with NCGS § 14-177 (crime against nature, a.k.a. sodomy), my first inclination is to say repeal this idiotic law, but in deference to those who have been here much longer than I (this statute dates back to 1913), I’m inclined to offer a helpful amendment, instead:
If any person shall, on any public road or highway and in the hearing of two or more persons, in a loud and boisterous manner, use indecent or profane language, he shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, unless at least one of those persons had done something to legitimately piss him off. The following counties shall be exempt from the provisions of this section: Davidson, Davie, Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Pitt, Randolph, and Swain.
That should pretty well cover all the counties I’ll be in on a regular basis. I don’t plan to go to Durham anytime soon, but if I do, I reserve the right to cuss out anyone and everyone I see, along a public road or otherwise. Not sure what to do about NCGS § 14-196, which makes it illegal to cuss at somebody over the phone. Do I violate that statute every time I cuss on this blog using a DSL connection?
February 1st, 2009 at 9:27 am
They oughta apply the law to people in stores. I get tired of going to the mall and having to listen to people curse their heads off.
I’d forgotten you moved to NC (you did, didn’t you?). Here’s another fun law: it is illegal to cut across a parking lot to avoid a stop light or stop sign. Police friends of mine in Greenville used to nail people doing this all the time when they were bored.
William Teach´s last blog post..The Cost Of Global Warming? $515 Billion. Per Year
February 1st, 2009 at 9:35 am
[...] XRLQ has some insight into changing an NC law regarding cussing [...]
February 1st, 2009 at 10:14 am
Yeah, I started working here in July, 2007, but formally moved in January, 2008. My only remaining connection to Virginia is a nice house that’s still on the market.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I think the law is both constitutional and ought to be enforced more often. If you want to work on the docks, work on the docks, otherwise keep a civil tongue around women and children. I remember when some of these words would be enough to start a fight in public.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:59 pm
I think the law is idiotic, but even if it’s not, what on earth justification can there be for exempting Swain County? Pitt I can understand; they love their cussin’ at ECU.
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:45 pm
But, when cussin, have to go get some barbecue. :)