Disturbing the Peace Attorney in Baltimore County, Maryland
What is Disturbing the Peace?
Disturbing the peace means willfully acting in a disorderly manner that disturbs the public peace. It is another form of disorderly conduct. To act “willfully” means that an act must be both performed knowingly and with deliberate intention. When one acts by mistake, accident, carelessness, or another innocent reason, then the act is not necessarily willful under the law. Acting in a disorderly manner means doing and/or saying something that offends, disturbs, incites, or tends to incite other persons gathered in the same area to the disturbance of the public peace.
What are Some Defenses to Disturbing the Peace?
- Insufficient proof
- Insufficient warning
- Mutual affray
- Constitutional defenses
What is the Penalty for Disturbing the Peace?
Even though disturbing the peace is a misdemeanor criminal offense, a person who is charged with it should take it seriously because, if convicted, would be subject to a maximum penalty of up to 60 days of incarceration and/or a fine of up to $500.00. Any criminal conviction on your record, even for a misdemeanor offense, can have long-lasting effects on a person’s ability to seek and maintain employment, possible immigration consequences, possible professional licensing consequences, and possible other collateral consequences.
Contact a Disturbing the Peace Attorney in Towson, Maryland
Contact an experienced disturbing the peace attorney today if you or a loved one have been charged with the crime of disturbing the peace. With an office located in the heart of Towson, Maryland, we serve folks throughout Baltimore County, Maryland and surrounding nearby areas. We offer free phone or office consultations, and we offer jail consultations for a fee. Please use the form below to contact us and someone from our office will reach back out to you.
