BEIJING, Jan. 30 -- Tired of tetchy residents engaging in obscenity-littered tiffs on the street, Shanghai authorities may fine the foul-mouthed as part of a new regulation governing behavior at public venues, domestic media reported.

    While Shanghai residents' reluctance to settle arguments through fisticuffs was commendable, their propensity to let fly with a barrage of swearwords was less endearing, the Shanghai Daily yesterday quoted the city's "civilization affairs office."

    "Dirty words often lead to fights, some of which may turn lethal," said Luo Huarong, a member of Shanghai's legislative body.

    "The city needs to draft a law that metes out fines to the offenders," she added.

    The size of the fine could "vary depending on the income of the offenders," the paper quoted Jiang Dehuai, an academic researching the draft regulation, as saying.

    Shanghai has launched a campaign to improve the manners of its 20 million residents ahead of the 2010 World Expo, which the local government is touting as a coming-of-age party for China's financial capital.

    Efforts have included urging locals who speak the Shanghai dialect to brush up on their Mandarin to avoid confusing Chinese visitors. Teams of students are being sent out to smile at strangers in public places to spread politeness among the traditionally frosty populace.

    Last week, the city government announced it would equip 45,000 taxis with spit-sacks to curb drivers' habits of winding down their windows and spitting onto the road.

    (Source: Shenzhendaily.com)