Pocono News Section

Woman Arrested for Cursing at Her Backed Up Toilet

Woman Arrested for Cursing at Her Backed Up Toilet - Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 5:45PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 @05:45pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- The ACLU says it will defend a Scranton woman who's facing charges after cursing at her toilet.

Police charged Dawn Herb of Luzerne Street in Scranton with disorderly conduct after she started swearing at her backed-up commode near an open window.

A neighbor - an off duty police officer - told her to stop using profanity. That started a verbal fight between the two.

Wednesday Herb pleaded not guilty in district court. A representative for the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania says this is violation of free speech.

This case is striking in that not only do we have police officers deciding they are ‘manners police’ and citing someone for bad language but they are citing her for doing it in her home," said ACLU Attorney Mary Catherine Roper.

By the way the ACLU attorney says she hasn't read the charges yet. Herb could face 90 days in jail and a $300 fine.