Park Ridge Repeals Anti-Swearing Ordinance, Allows For Profanity Once More

Suburb Legalizes Swearing By Repealing Rarely Enforced Ordinance

Northwest suburban Park Ridge residents will now be able to swear, legally, thanks to a local law being stripped from the books.

The Park Ridge City Council decided this week to delete a law which made it a crime "to use profanity in any street, alley or public place of the City." The repeal was part of a broader effort to rein in the number of city ordinances, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Park Ridge Police Chief Frank Kaminski said that though the law is not enforced, it was likely not constitutional in a first place, as it violated freedom of speech.

According to an AP report, the city also deleted a disorderly conduct ordinance, which made using "abusive or obscene language" or gestures illegal. Next on their agenda? An "indecent exposure" law which both outlaws public nudity and officially bans the public wearing of the "opposite gender's" clothing items.

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