Here is an interesting story in the news…it seems that people who annoy others are now being held legally responsible and can receive fines for their annoying behavior. Those who have been annoyed now have legal recourse against those who continually display behavior that is alarming, annoying, or serves no legitimate purpose. Wow! That is interesting.
In Brighton, Michigan starting January 17, 2009…the new ordinance will begin. It will also be against the law to molest anyone, to insult them, annoy or accost them. Hmmm, one wonders about the potential limitations, of such of a law or ordinance. Who decides what constitutes legal annoyance? Will there be guidelines as to what is just a frustration, and what is over the top and prosecutable?
All that i could think of when i heard about this was; that it was a good thing that the law was not viable in my own home between my children….everything they do annoys each other some days! 🙂 I can just see it in homes across the nation, can’t you? Mom…make him/her stop…they won’t leave me alone…so and so took my seat…he/she is annoying me…Mooooooooooommmmmmmmmmm!!! Good thing we don’t have to pay fines against annoying each other in families…don’t ya think? I mean…really stop and think about this law…is it going to have a positive impact on the community of Brighton?
It would seem like this type of law has unlimited potential for frivolous lawsuits by people with grudges against one another. It has a price tag of a $500.00 fine; which is no small thing. I think that the courts will eventually resent having every little dispute brought before the bench…but, the fee that the court would levy against those violating the new law would help them to overcome the inconvience and resentment associated with enforcing such a new law. What do you think…will this be something that catches on around the country? Should it? Does a law like this have the power to be abused? Should there be some kind of written guidelines or consequences to prevent someone from fraudulently accusing innocent people?
Write where you are 