TENTERFIELD has found itself on a worst offenders list as one of the towns with the foulest mouths in NSW.
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Figures obtained through the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, highlighted Tenterfield as a repeat offender when it came to contributing money to the states swear-jar.
The report, considering population rates, found Tenterfield, Byron Bay, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Bourke, Snowy Mountains and Sydney were the poorest when it came to keeping it clean.
In March, the state government tripled on-the-spot fines for swearing in public.
Fines for offensive language were increased from $150 to $500 as part of new laws to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence.
But that sharp increase hasn’t deterred locals with Tenterfield Police forced to regularly issue tickets for bad language.
Offences were often linked to alcohol abuse and swearing at police.
Tenterfield Shire mayor Peter Petty said people simply needed to be wary of how they led themselves in the public arena.
“Obviously it is a concern – individuals just need to conduct themselves properly.
“I think we’re very lucky with the police we have here – it’s a good team,” Cr Petty said.
A NSW Police spokesperson said ‘‘certain language in public places is unacceptable’’.
‘‘There’s not a hard and fast rule for when you hand out a ticket.
“When used outside a peer group, it would be seen as unacceptable.”
The increase in fine charges was introduced in February and is the highest on-the-spot penalty for swearing in Australia.
Police in Victoria can fine you $240, while in Queensland it will cost just $100 if you let one drop in public.
The only other state where fines are issued on the spot is South Australia.
Despite Tenterfield’s rise in the list, NSW saw an 8.5 per cent decline in the number of recorded incidents.