POLL: Should Medfield Hand Out Fines for Swearing in Public?

Fines for foul language in public? 

That's exactly what will be happening in Middleborough after voters instituted a $20 fine for public profanity at Monday's Town Meeting.

At Middleborough's town meeting Monday night, residents voted 183-50 to approve the town warrant article that allows police to issue $20 fines to people who use loud profanity in downtown areas and public parks, according to Fox 25 and other news outlets.

Middleborough's Chief of Police proposed the fine, saying there's a pattern of excessive profanity and other offensive behavior in areas of Middleborough, according to the Boston Globe. One resident told the Globe that hard cursing is so intimidating in parts of town that some senior citizens won't go to downtown shops.

When asked about instituting a fine for public profanity, Medfield Chief of Police Robert E. Meaney Jr. said he would not speculate on what another police chief feels is "an appropriate enforcement tool for their community," adding "it will be interesting to see how it works out."

As for Medfield, Meaney said public profanity is only an occassional issue.

"We have occassional issues with loud individuals that we are successful in addressing with a conversation," Meaney said.

So Medfield, we want to know ...

Today's question: Should Medfield issue fines to individuals for public profanity?