The Associated Press reports this morning that the American Civil Liberties Union says Pittsburgh police have issued nearly 200 disorderly conduct citations for "cussing" over a 32-month period. That number includes charges for obscene gestures and other acts deemed disrespectful.
According to a state ACLU official, the cursing charges came to light in connection with a federal lawsuit involving a man who was cited after allegedly making an obscene gesture at another driver, and then at a police sergeant. The city of Pittsburgh says the man was ticketed for blocking traffic, not for what he might have done with his fingers.
A little food for thought, given the supercharged political atmosphere in downtown St. Paul with the RNC in town this week. Last night it took me a little over 30-minutes to get from the I-94 7th Street exit to the parking garage at Minnesota Public Radio - normally about a two-minute trek. Thankfully, Bill Morelock was on the radio playing Mozart about that time and I was completely at ease - no fingers needed.
Breathe in....breathe out.
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