澳大利亞新規:罵人者罰款

澳大利亞第二大州維多利亞將於本週通過一項最新法令，規定執法警務人員可以對那些在公共場所爆粗口的人當場實施罰款，最高可罰240澳元。維多利亞州總檢察官表示，這項法令跟警察對超速或違章停車開罰單的性質一樣，讓警務人員能夠當場執法，爲他們節省了時間。他還指出，每個人在日常生活中都有可能會在嘴裏小聲罵幾句，這項法令針對的當然不是這些人，而是那些在公共場所爆出侮辱性語言、引起周圍人反感的公然冒犯行爲。

Australians may have a love of plain speaking but new laws are set to curtail some of their more colourful language with police issuing on-the-spot fines for obnoxious swearing.

The country's second most populous state Victoria is due to approve new legislation this week under which police will be able to slap fines of up to Aus$240 (US$257) on people using offensive words or phrases.

Victorian Attorney-General Robert Clark said the penalties, similar to those issued for speeding or parking illegally, would free up police time.

"This will give the police the tools they need to be able to act against this sort of obnoxious behaviour on the spot, rather than having to drag offenders off to court and take up time and money in proceedings," he said.

But even the state's top lawyer admitted to swearing sometimes.

"Occasionally I mutter things under my breath as probably everybody does," he told ABC radio.

"But this law is not targeted at that, it's targeted at the sort of obnoxious, offensive behaviour in public that makes life unpleasant for everybody else."