Roswell’s change to disorderly conduct law allows public cursing

The city of Roswell is moving to loosen regulations on public cursing.

The Roswell City Council approved on first reading Monday night a change that would remove the use of profane or obscene language from the list of offenses in the city’s ordinances dealing with disorderly conduct.

Police Chief Rusty Grant said that the change is being made out of First Amendment concerns. He pointed out that the remainder of the city’s code on disorderly conduct remains in effect, governing offered violence and unruly conduct putting people in fear.