Saturday, October 1, 2005

A "Shushing" Rule With Teeth In It

I have no idea if (or if so, how often) they actually enforce this, but in Massachusetts you can get fined fifty bucks and spend a month in jail for making noise in the library. My question is, would it be a crime against chastity, morality, decency, or good order? (Or all of the above? After all, it says "and good order," not "or.")

Sometimes I wish they had a law like this in Illinois!


GENERAL LAWS OF MASSACHUSETTS

PART IV. CRIMES, PUNISHMENTS AND PROCEEDINGS IN CRIMINAL CASES
TITLE I. CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS

CHAPTER 272. CRIMES AGAINST CHASTITY, MORALITY, DECENCY AND GOOD ORDER

Section 40: Disturbance of schools or assemblies

Whoever wilfully interrupts or disturbs a school or other assembly of people met for a lawful purpose shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one month or by a fine of not more than fifty dollars; provided, however, that whoever, within one year after being twice convicted of a violation of this section, again violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for one month, and the sentence imposing such imprisonment shall not be suspended.

Section 41: Disturbance of libraries

Whoever wilfully disturbs persons assembled in a public library, or a reading room connected therewith, by making a noise or in any other manner during the time when such library or reading room is open to the public shall be punished as provided in the preceding section.

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