Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Don't Swear in the Airport

A PhD student has filed a first amendment lawsuit after she was charged with disorderly conduct at John Wayne Airport in Orange County.

Why was she charged? She was saying goodbye to a friend at the airport and, in the course of that goodbye, swore rather loudly. A sheriff's deputy asked her to keep her swearing to a minimum because there were children around. The swearer replied, "Is it against the [bleeping] law to say [bleep]?" ("bleeps" added by NY Times, not me). Said the deputy, "yes it is," then cited her for disorderly conduct.

An expert quoted in the story said that charges against her will likely be dropped. Damn.