澳大利亚第二大州维多利亚将于本周通过一项最新法令，规定执法警务人员可以对那些在公共场所爆粗口的人当场实施罚款，最高可罚240澳元。维多利亚州总检察官表示，这项法令跟警察对超速或违章停车开罚单的性质一样，让警务人员能够当场执法，为他们节省了时间。他还指出，每个人在日常生活中都有可能会在嘴里小声骂几句，这项法令针对的当然不是这些人，而是那些在公共场所爆出侮辱性语言、引起周围人反感的公然冒犯行为。

The country's second most populous state Victoria is due to approve new legislation this week under which police will be able to slap fines of up to Aus$240 (US$257) on people using offensive words or phrases.

Australians may have a love of plain speaking but new laws are set to curtail some of their more colourful language with police issuing on-the-spot fines for obnoxious swearing.

The country's second most populous state Victoria is due to approve new legislation this week under which police will be able to slap fines of up to Aus$240 (US$257) on people using offensive words or phrases.

Victorian Attorney-General Robert Clark said the penalties, similar to those issued for speeding or parking illegally, would free up police time.

"This will give the police the tools they need to be able to act against this sort of obnoxious behaviour on the spot, rather than having to drag offenders off to court and take up time and money in proceedings," he said.

But even the state's top lawyer admitted to swearing sometimes.

"Occasionally I mutter things under my breath as probably everybody does," he told ABC radio.

"But this law is not targeted at that, it's targeted at the sort of obnoxious, offensive behaviour in public that makes life unpleasant for everybody else."

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(Agencies)

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）