{"id":373830,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:29","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/maryland-law\/maryland-disorderly-conduct-laws.html"},"modified":"2018-03-07T18:17:13","modified_gmt":"2018-03-07T23:17:13","slug":"maryland-disorderly-conduct-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/maryland-law\/maryland-disorderly-conduct-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Maryland Disorderly Conduct Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Maryland Disorderly Conduct Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

States try to protect their residents from the unreasonable behavior of others by creating and enforcing disorderly conduct<\/a> or disturbing the peace<\/a> laws prohibiting things like excessively loud noise, fighting, or preventing others from traveling in public areas. These laws often go hand-in-hand with public intoxication<\/a> laws. While Maryland has a disorderly conduct law, described below, it also prohibits being drunk in public<\/a> and causing a disturbance or endangering others or property due to being intoxicated.<\/p>\n

Disorderly Conduct Related Laws<\/h2>\n

In Maryland, it\u2019s illegal to keep a disorderly house<\/a>, meaning making loud noises or disruptive behavior. The same disorderly conduct behavior is also prohibited at sporting events<\/a>. The interference with a commercial athletic event only applies to events that have an admission charge and keeps players and spectators safe by prohibiting throwing objects that could cause injury onto the field and stadium seats.<\/p>\n

The following table highlights the main provisions of Maryland\u2019s disorderly conduct law.<\/p>\n\n

Code Sections<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Maryland Criminal Law Code, Section 10-201: Disturbing the Public Peace and Disorderly Conduct<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

What Is Prohibited?<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Maryland prohibits four types of disorderly conduct:<\/p>\n

Penalties<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor<\/a> that can be punished by up to 60 days in jail and fined up to $500.<\/p>\n

In comparison, interfering with access to a medical facility can be punished by up to 90 days in jail and up to a $1,000 fine. Interestingly, interfering with a sporting event, is punishable by three months in jail (which presumably could be longer than 90 days), but a smaller fine of up to only $250. Finally, a person convicted of public intoxication could get up to 90 days in jail, but only up to a $100 fine.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n

Note: <\/i><\/b>State laws change all the time. It\u2019s a good idea to confirm the currency of the laws you are looking up or speak with an experienced Maryland criminal defense attorney.<\/i><\/p>\n

Get Legal Help with Your Disorderly Conduct Charges in Maryland<\/h2>\n

Disorderly conduct can be kind of a vague charge, often used as a "catch-all" for certain types of public disturbances. For instance, sometimes peaceful protestors are improperly arrested and charged with the disorderly conduct. Regardless of your situation, you may want to speak with a criminal defense attorney<\/a> in Maryland about how best to defend against the charges.<\/p>\n

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