Cries of ‘Foul’ Greet Curb on Profanity : Legislation: A new ordinance in Quincy, Mass., banning cursing in public has riled critics, who say the First Amendment prohibits such restrictions.

In what apparently has become an all-too-common occurrence here, a young man sauntered out of the Quincy Center subway station Wednesday and, at the top of his lungs, yelled an obscenity.

No police were present. But had they been, the young man could have received a $100 fine under an ordinance against swearing in public signed Dec. 17 by Mayor James A. Sheets, who said he had been offended by “profanity and vulgarity being screamed” on the streets.

“People in the city have a right to expect that they can bring their families downtown and not be subjected to . . . profanity,” the mayor said.

By Thursday evening, no arrests had been made under the new measure, which does not specify which words or phrases constitute profanity. But the move has raised questions of freedom of speech.

“They’re running smack up against the First Amendment when they start to proscribe language,” said Lawrence F. O’Donnell, a Quincy attorney.

Sheets rejoins: “Let someone challenge it. I’m sensitive to First Amendment freedoms, but the people who live here have some rights.”

Just 10 miles south of Boston, Quincy is a largely blue-collar town with a population of more than 88,000; it’s also the birthplace of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Much of the trouble that prompted the ban is said to take place at the Quincy Center subway station in the heart of downtown.

The area has been partly renovated in an attempt to attract new businesses and more tourists. But several large buildings there bear “For Rent” signs, and vacancies dot one office complex.

Mayor Sheets said sometimes-rowdy teen-agers “hang around” for hours every day outside the Quincy Center “T” station, as the subway is known, often swearing at passers-by. The anti-profanity ordinance, he said, is just another step toward revitalization.

But so far, few young people say they have even heard of the law. Those familiar with it almost unanimously called it “stupid.”

“Well, I really hope they’re not going to enforce it, because I just got away with about 50 grand,” said Katie, 12, who refused to give her last name. “I think it’s stupid.”

John Roberts, executive director of the Massachusetts Civil Liberties Union, said scores of towns across the nation have introduced similar laws “but they’ve been struck down.” He faulted Quincy’s ordinance as “hopelessly constitutionally vague.”

“Just plain swearing has really not ever been held to be obscene,” Roberts said, warning that “with the language used today, they’d better be ready to fill up their jails” in Quincy.

The Rev. Sheldon Bennett, minister at Quincy’s United First Parish Church, said he was “searching the Bible” for an appropriate topic for this Sunday’s sermon.

Bennett said he was thinking of something along the lines of “My Right to Curse in Public, Dammit.”