Disturbing the public peace and disorderly conduct

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    (a)    (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)    For purposes of a prosecution under this section, a public conveyance or a public place need not be devoted solely to public use.

    (c)    (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)    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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