I received a ticket for saying bad words in public, what do I do to fight it?

Question

I was in the local Walgreens in the shampoo section and they didn't have any more conditioner and I said to my friend "They don't have anymore ******* conditioner." There was a man in the other aisle who claimed to be a fire marshall and he told me to come with him outside, showing me a badge.

He gave me a ticket for disorderly conduct and I told him this was against the law because I have a right to free speech in this country. He told me no.

Is this even legal? what do I do?

Answer 1

The same thing just happened in Texas. So I guess it is legal. You can read the story here.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/fron...

Don't feel bad I have said a lot worse.

Answer 2

Take the ticket to the actual police to be sure, but if he was a fire marshal, he can only give tickets for violating fire codes.  Disorderly conduct is outside his jurisdiction.

Answer 3

If you say a bad word in public it is concidered disordery conduct. I dont know other laws but in CA you must be in uniform and working in order to give a citation. But you should not worry about it. But it is illegal to do that. I got to admit that guy must have been an a**hole.  

Answer 4

If he was a fire marshall, he's not a cop.  Go to the Police Department.  And my God, he could have been a killer!  Don't EVER go off alone with anyone, even someone claiming to be a cop!

Answer 5

...did you say "republican" again....shame shame

seriously... take it to court. you have nothing to loose

Answer 6

Wow. Thats not even like bad.. How ******* comical. so did the guy actually give you a ticket or is he trying to sue you or what.. if its like 5 bucks its not worth the hassle.. otherwise, ya its not illegal, at least i thought. lol, ******* hilarious.

Answer 7

first off your story is bs. you got caught in a lie. fire marshall's do not write citations for this.try growing up and telling the truth.a fire marshall can not write citations for breach of the peace. what the other poster left out was that this marshall was also certified as a police office which makes a big difference.he can write the citation because he is a certified police officer and not a fire marshal.the other poster said for you to read the story. she should have read the story and it would have been clear that the guy was also a officer.if just a fire marshall he could not write the ticket.as for if your rights were violated the answer is no.when you create a disturbance or breach of the peace it is against the law in texas.all it takes if for one person to complain.this time the person to complain was also the one to write the citation.your mouth could have got you out of trouble but you could not control your own mouth.you kept running your mouth so now you have nobody to blame but yourself. while a fire marshall is not a police office some other fire department officials are considered the same as a police officer. these are arson investigators.most states have their arson investigators licensed as police officers.

----------retired texas deputy sheriff----------

Answer 8

What would the fire marshal have to do with anything of the sort. That's c**p, call your local police station and ask.

Answer 9

A fire marshall? did his badge say" light my fire"? are you sure you were in the shampoo section and not the toy section.