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2017 Maryland Code
Criminal Law
Title 10 - Crimes Against Public Health, Conduct, and Sensibilities
Subtitle 2 - Disturbing the Peace, Disorderly Conduct, and Related Crimes
§ 10-201. Disturbing the public peace and disorderly conduct
Universal Citation: MD Crim Law Code § 10-201 (2017)
- (a) Definitions. --
- (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
- (2)
- (i) "Public conveyance" means a conveyance to which the public or a portion of the public has access to and a right to use for transportation.
- (ii) "Public conveyance" includes an airplane, vessel, bus, railway car, school vehicle, and subway car.
- (3)
- (i) "Public place" means a place to which the public or a portion of the public has access and a right to resort for business, dwelling, entertainment, or other lawful purpose.
- (ii) "Public place" includes:
- 1. a restaurant, shop, shopping center, store, tavern, or other place of business;
- 2. a public building;
- 3. a public parking lot;
- 4. a public street, sidewalk, or right-of-way;
- 5. a public park or other public grounds;
- 6. the common areas of a building containing four or more separate dwelling units, including a corridor, elevator, lobby, and stairwell;
- 7. a hotel or motel;
- 8. a place used for public resort or amusement, including an amusement park, golf course, race track, sports arena, swimming pool, and theater;
- 9. an institution of elementary, secondary, or higher education;
- 10. a place of public worship;
- 11. a place or building used for entering or exiting a public conveyance, including an airport terminal, bus station, dock, railway station, subway station, and wharf; and
- 12. the parking areas, sidewalks, and other grounds and structures that are part of a public place.
- (b) Construction of section. -- For purposes of a prosecution under this section, a public conveyance or a public place need not be devoted solely to public use.
- (c) Prohibited. --
- (1) A person may not willfully and without lawful purpose obstruct or hinder the free passage of another in a public place or on a public conveyance.
- (2) A person may not willfully act in a disorderly manner that disturbs the public peace.
- (3) A person may not willfully fail to obey a reasonable and lawful order that a law enforcement officer makes to prevent a disturbance to the public peace.
- (4) A person who enters the land or premises of another, whether an owner or lessee, or a beach adjacent to residential riparian property, may not willfully:
- (i) disturb the peace of persons on the land, premises, or beach by making an unreasonably loud noise; or
- (ii) act in a disorderly manner.
- (5) A person from any location may not, by making an unreasonably loud noise, willfully disturb the peace of another:
- (i) on the other's land or premises;
- (ii) in a public place; or
- (iii) on a public conveyance.
- (6) In Worcester County, a person may not build a bonfire or allow a bonfire to burn on a beach or other property between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
- (d) Penalty. -- A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 60 days or a fine not exceeding $ 500 or both.
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