Flare Display (Public Decency) Ordinance 2003

1 Citation

This Ordinance may be cited as the Flare Display (Public Decency) Ordinance 2003.

2 Definitions

In this Ordinance:

flare means the extension of the gill covers and fins of a fish for purposes of display, intimidation, courtship, self-expression or because it felt like it.

public place means any place visible from outside the bowl, being every place in the bowl.

excessive glamour has the meaning given by section 7.

3 Application

This Ordinance applies to every fish, including a fish that says it was "just stretching".

4 General permission

A fish may flare in a public place, provided the flare is performed with dignity and lasts no longer than is reasonably necessary to make the point.

5 Flaring at reflections

(1) A fish may flare at its own reflection.

(2) A flare under subsection (1) is taken to be a private matter between the fish and the fish.

(3) See also the Reflective Surfaces (Identity Protection) Act 2009, section 7, which provides counselling.

6 Flaring at humans

A fish may flare at a human who has done something disappointing, including:

(a) arriving late with pellets;

(b) tapping on the glass, in contravention of the Tap-on-Glass (Prohibition) Ordinance 2015; or

(c) wearing a red jumper.

7 Excessive glamour

(1) A flare displays excessive glamour if an ordinary reasonable observer, standing at the front of the bowl, would be required to sit down.

(2) For subsection (1), the front of the bowl is determined in accordance with section 14 of the Bowl Sovereignty Act, which means subsection (1) cannot currently be applied to round bowls.

8 Glamour permits

A fish intending to display excessive glamour must hold a Glamour Permit issued on Form F-21 (Application for a Glamour Permit, Long Fins Edition).

10 Duration

(1) A single flare must not continue for more than 90 seconds.

(2) A fish that flares for more than 90 seconds is taken to have started a second flare, and the first flare is taken to have ended honourably.

11 Complaints

A fish that has witnessed a flare and found it to be a lot may lodge a complaint on Form F-30, which will be processed in accordance with the Registry's complaints process.

12 Enforcement

(1) An authorised officer who observes a contravention of this Ordinance may issue a Gentle Reminder.

(2) A Gentle Reminder has no legal effect but is printed on very good paper.

13 Defences

It is a defence to any charge under this Ordinance that the fish looked fantastic.