Fine for foul-mouthed tirade

A woman who was forcibly removed from a bus for hurling abuse then swore at the police officers who confronted her has been hit with a fine. Kristy-Ann Huppatz, 43, was on board the Bunbury to Albany Transwa bus on May 11 when she began to yell and curse loudly in front of about 15 other passengers. The coach driver called police after the woman continued to scream and swear, despite being asked on a number of occasions to stop. A pair of officers then stopped the vehicle near Greenbushes and told the driver to continue travelling to Bridgetown, about 17km away, while they trailed behind. Police then followed the coach to make sure the woman was no longer disturbing other passengers. When the group arrived in Bridgetown, the two officers boarded the bus to confront the 43-year-old. Huppatz then launched into a swearing and shouting tirade in front of the other passengers, bus driver and police. Police told the woman to stop swearing and she replied “f... off”. When Huppatz refused to leave quietly on a number of occasions, police handcuffed the woman and forcibly removed her from the bus, causing her to spit and swear at the onlookers. Huppatz appeared in Manjimup Magistrate’s Court last week where she pleaded guilty to behaving in a disorderly manner in a public setting. The court was told the woman had an “extensive record” that Magistrate Ben Tyers took into account while deliberating. Huppatz was given a $500 fine for the abusive outburst.