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Are verbal threats of bodily harm considered criminal acts?

Additionally, are profanity and verbal insults considered free speech or is there any statute prohibiting such behavior? This is in Oklahoma, but any insight pertaining to general regulations in other areas is welcome.

Update:

Just F.Y.I. I am asking this pertaining to a traffic incident this morning in which the other driver was quite abusive. I have found the traffic statute indicating that this person was in the wrong but I am wondering if I have to let the jerk get away with his behavior.

18 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    If he threatened bodily harm and had the means to carry it out, then yes, that is assault. That is, if you reasonable feared bodily harm, then he is guilty of assault.

    Profanity and verbal insults, not so much. Unless it was slander, but that would have to be something that damaged your reputation to others...and they reasonably believed the accusations.

    If he just cussed at you...then that is not a crime.

    If he threatened to bust your head and had a baseball bat in his hand, then he committed a crime.

  • 5 years ago

    1

    Source(s): Criminal Record Search Database : http://criminalrecords.raiwi.com/?YZeN
  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Verbal Threats

  • kja63
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Were there any witnesses? Otherwise, it's just his word against yours.

    If you have documented proof of verbal threats of bodily harm, then yes, it's a criminal act. As for profanity and verbal insults, you're best to simply ignore the idiot.

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  • 1 decade ago

    Only if the person was abusive to the cop the cop could take him to jail bc he was cussing at him or what not. The cop could also take him to jail for hurting himself too but that is a technicality. Yes you could do something you could mentionate tot he police who was on the scene and ask him if he could mentionate to the judge maybe he will get anthor fine for that but that also could be very technical also That would be a judgement call on the cop and the judge would have to make. very thin line to cross on that but they could charge him for distruption of the investigation or something technicall like that. The only thing i would suggest is you talking since you were not in the wrong you could talk to the cop who investagted the accident or whatever it was happen with this person and see what the cop can do.

    GOOD LUCK.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    If a person threatens to harm you physically in any way it is considered harrassment, which is a crime. Profanity and verbal insults depend on the context.

  • 1 decade ago

    In my own state...the laws applicable would be "Harassing Communication."

    Harassment or harassing communications.

    (a)(1) HARASSMENT. A person commits the crime of harassment if, with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person, he or she either:

    a. Strikes, shoves, kicks, or otherwise touches a person or subjects him or her to physical contact.

    b. Directs abusive or obscene language or makes an obscene gesture towards another person.

    (2) For purposes of this section, harassment shall include a threat, verbal or nonverbal, made with the intent to carry out the threat, that would cause a reasonable person who is the target of the threat to fear for his or her safety.

    Best wishes!

  • 1 decade ago

    As far as I know, threats can be considered assault. Battery is when the threats are made good on. People have been arrested in Michigan for using profanity in public.

  • 5 years ago

    Criminal Records Search Database - http://infosearchdetective.com/

  • jean d
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    yes. It's called COMMUNICATING THREATS. Whether it's verbal or written it's still a threat which always needs to be taken seriously.

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