Fix The Broken Windows

Guiliani's first step when he became mayor of New York was to deal with the scofflaw individuals when it came to the simple things and it was the start of a reduction of crime. It appears that other major cities in Canada are adopting a similar policy and whatever there motivation I applaud them.....I have to wonder if Toronto has similar bylaws on the books and when was the last time someone get fined?

Calgary set to ban public peeing, spitting
Some criticize new bylaw as attempt to make it illegal to be homeless
Nov. 19, 2006. 04:33 PM
JAMES STEVENSON
CANADIAN PRESS

CALGARY — Calgary's promotional slogan is "Heart of the New West." And to distinguish it from the Old West, a few new rules are about to apply.

There'll be no fighting, spitting or peeing in public, unless you want the city to relieve you of hundreds of dollars in fines.

And don't even think about defecating, loitering, putting your feet up on public benches or carrying a visible knife around.

These proscriptions aimed at "regulating public behaviour" are expected to become law in this sprawling Prairie city when council gives a new bylaw final reading Monday.

It's a matter of trying to curtail those who are disrespecting the community, says Bill Bruce, Calgary's director of bylaw services.

"We're not after people who get caught short and have to sneak into the bushes and take care of business," he clarified. "We're after people who are out and out disrespectful in full view of the public doing this kind of stuff."

Several years in the making, Calgary's new etiquette rules are ``really a bylaw of what you should know," said Bruce. "But unfortunately we need a bylaw because we're finding that too many people don't know it."

In Saskatoon, the Public Spitting, Urination and Defecation Prohibition Bylaw has been in effect for two years.

And while the title itself leaves little room for interpretation, the bylaw goes on to define terms like "city," "street," and ``defecate." Spitting means "to eject phlegm, saliva, chewing tobacco juice or any other substance from the mouth."

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