Civility Police Bans Causing 'Emotional Distress'

In Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, the civility police is out in force. The city council has adopted a new bylaw that doles out fines of up to $2,000 for bullying in public or in cyberspace.

On Monday night, council approved the Regina Anti Bullying and Public Fighting Bylaw. Among other things, it makes it illegal to bully another person in any public place and through written or electronic communication. It also makes it an offence to take pictures or video of a fight and post it online. Bullying includes comments or conduct intended to "intimidate, humiliate or isolate" people in a way that causes "physical or emotional distress," according to the Saskatchewan city's bylaw. Fines will range from $100 to $2,000. Police will ticket offenders.

Who'll be doing the accusing? Potentially, any person who can't take a joke, rude or otherwise; anyone who is severely and perhaps deservedly mocked or criticized in public; anyone whose skin is thinner and whose backbone less robust than most people's. Also, any local cartoonist or fiery columnist, who'll be left to ponder what happened to their freedom of speech.

Just think: Schoolyard taunts between 12-year-olds are now going to be a police matter.

I have a few choice words for the Regina city council, but I'm afraid they might suddenly be against the law.

For more well-intended but asinine anti-bullying measures, see here.

Comments

[LeeFranke]

PUNK!

(how much did that cost me?)

[David]

I wonder how they plan to enforce this, and if it applies only if both parties are Regina residents?

I suppose they'll need to do away with anonymity first, and worry about extradition later.