Spitting in the face is crime, court rules

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Reuters

A man who intentionally spat at another can be charged with criminal assault, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Wednesday.

Jeffrey Lewellyn was sentenced to two years probation and 50 hours of community service after he spat in 2004 at a patient who swore at him on the grounds of a Veterans Administration Medical Center in Walla Walla, Washington.

He appealed the conviction, arguing that spitting did not constitute an assault, but the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed.

"Intentionally spitting on another person is an offensive touching that rises to the level of simple assault," the three-judge panel wrote.

[Cali Gal CPA 0]

Relief for germophobics like me.

[Carlawarla 1]

I can remember this coming into effect in Saskatchewan over 10 years ago....

Carla

[fozzie 41]

Good! It's a disgusting thing to do!!!!!!

[Jasman0717 9]

[almaty 19]

BS..spitting on someone is not a crime..it deserves an azz beating but is not a crime

[Carlawarla 1]

BS..spitting on someone is not a crime..it deserves an azz beating but is not a crime

Assault is often defined to include not only violence, but any physical contact with another person without their consent. When assault is defined like this, exceptions are provided to cover such things as normal social behavior (for example, patting someone on the back).

Giving some an azz beating is also an assault! hehe

Carla

almaty...I love your posts, you're so funny! You say it as you see it....

[DeadPoolX 9]

I remember reading that assault can technically be the verbal threatening to do bodily harm to someone. Battery is when the actual physical act takes place. That's why they call it "assault and battery."

[almaty 19]

BS..spitting on someone is not a crime..it deserves an azz beating but is not a crime

Assault is often defined to include not only violence, but any physical contact with another person without their consent. When assault is defined like this, exceptions are provided to cover such things as normal social behavior (for example, patting someone on the back).

Giving some an azz beating is also an assault! hehe

Carla

almaty...I love your posts, you're so funny! You say it as you see it....

sister carla, total agreement..in kansas, we had a few folks locked up for making a threat to someone ( ks law..(terroristic threat) ....i was just spouting off like a chopf##k

[Mags 112]

There are quite alot of contagious germs in saliva. Ick.

If someone spat in my face my first instinct would be to deck 'em. My second (and more sensible!) instinct would be to call the police.

It SHOULD be a crime. I know it is in the UK.

[Ban Hammer 13,336]

He appealed the conviction, arguing that spitting did not constitute an assault, but the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed.

i disagree too, it's assault. and instant grounds for an attitude adjustment