Is it illegal to stand on the side of the road with a sign containing "profanity"?

[RupertPupkin]

Is it illegal to stand on the side of the road (i.e. in public) and hold up a sign that contains "profanity" in the state of Maryland? Other states?

What if you just want to stand on the side of the road and hold up a sign that simply says "F__K YOU". Could you get arrested for that? If you could wouldn't that be violating your right to free speech? Would it violate someone else's right to not want to see that?

[Judge]

It is not legal. None of your rights are absolute. Under some circumstances your right to freedom of speech can be terminated.

[ewopper]

Is it illegal to stand on the side of the road (i.e. in public) and hold up a sign that contains "profanity" in the state of Maryland? Other states?

What if you just want to stand on the side of the road and hold up a sign that simply says "F__K YOU". Could you get arrested for that? If you could wouldn't that be violating your right to free speech? Would it violate someone else's right to not want to see that?

The tricky parameters in this is if someoneone finds it offensive you can be charged and fined for public profanity or even a public nuisance. The gray area is how the charges are written up and how close they match town or state ordinances concerning indecency laws. My advice would be don't do it unless you have a good lawyer