Officials in Ogden, Utah, have ended a plan to institute a profanity ban in city parks and playground areas. The ordinance, introduced in early August, was aimed at improving sportsmanship at sporting events, stating that no person was to "disturb the peace by using obscene or profane language, in any park, playground or recreational facility owned or used by the city, or at any recreational event that is organized, operated, managed or sponsored by the city."
The proposal faced opposition from free-speech advocates, and while the ordinance would not necessarily be a violation of people's First Amendment rights, experts warned that the wording was too broad to withstand legal challenges.
Officials in Ogden, Utah, have ended a plan to institute a profanity ban in city parks and playground areas. The ordinance, introduced in early August, was aimed at improving sportsmanship at sporting events, stating that no person was to "disturb the peace by using obscene or profane language, in any park, playground or recreational facility owned or used by the city, or at any recreational event that is organized, operated, managed or sponsored by the city."
The proposal faced opposition from free-speech advocates, and while the ordinance would not necessarily be a violation of people's First Amendment rights, experts warned that the wording was too broad to withstand legal challenges.
"It kind of snowballed and wasn't worth the anxiety it was causing," Mark Johnson, Ogden's chief administrative officer told the Deseret News. The city is now looking for advice from the National Alliance of Youth Sports, as well as seeking input from other cities that have dealt with the issue.
