HB893: Profane swearing or cursing in public; eliminates crime.

HOUSE BILL NO. 893

Offered January 13, 2016
Prefiled January 12, 2016
A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-388 of the Code of Virginia, relating to profane swearing in public.
Patron-- Webert

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 18.2-388 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 18.2-388. Intoxication in public; penalty; transportation of public inebriates to detoxification center.

If any Any person profanely curses or swears or who is intoxicated in public, whether such intoxication results from alcohol, narcotic drug, or other intoxicant or drug of whatever nature, he shall be deemed is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. In any area in which there is located a court-approved detoxification center, a law-enforcement officer may authorize the transportation, by police or otherwise, of public inebriates to such detoxification center in lieu of arrest; however, no person shall be involuntarily detained in such center.