You may not swear in front of women and children. (Repealed, 2002)
Background information (if available):
Sec. 337. Indecent, etc., language in presence of women or children — Any person who shall use any indecent, immoral, obscene, vulgar or insulting language in the presence or hearing of any woman or child shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
In 1999, a man was convicted of violating this law after he fell out of his canoe and started swearing up a storm. He was arrested and charged under an 1897 Michigan law. In 2002, the law was overturned after the ACLU of Michigan successfully fought the law on First Amendment ground.
3 Responses to “You may not swear in front of women and children. (Repealed, 2002)”
Comment from Mark
Time July 10, 2012 at 4:52 pm
What kind of stupidity is this? Wasting court time with cussing cases?
Comment from CJ
Time July 31, 2012 at 1:53 pm
So wait… If I hit my hand with a hammer and yell “damn!” I could be prosecuted if a child hears it? That’s the dumbest f***ing thing I ever heard.
Of course I don’t even consider that word to be indecent or vulgar so… yell that they can shove it up their ass?
Comment from nasp
Time October 29, 2010 at 1:58 pm
this law was repealed, but only the part about women its still illegal to swear in front of children.