Nashville Disorderly Conduct Attorney
The charge of disorderly conduct is a criminal offense in Tennessee; it involves causing a public inconvenience or annoyance, or generating unnecessary alarm. Prime examples include fights, excessive noise in public places, and hazardous conditions. A conviction for disorderly conduct has both legal and social consequences that shouldn’t be ignored, reach out for the skilled legal guidance of an experienced Nashville criminal defense attorney today.
The Charge of Disorderly Conduct
Actions that deliberately disturb public order are considered disorderly conduct in Tennessee, and all the following qualify:
- Having reckless disregard for the impact your actions have on others
- Intentionally causing the public an inconvenience or annoyance
- Causing the public to become alarmed – when it isn’t warranted
- Fighting or engaging in another form of violent behavior
- Disturbing a lawful assembly
- Making an unreasonable amount of noise in public
- Creating a hazardous condition – or one that’s physically offensive – without legal justification
Your actions needn’t cause harm for the charge of disorderly conduct to stick. Instead, having the intent to disrupt the peace or to engage in reckless actions in public suffices.
Public Disturbances
The term “public disturbance” is vague, but disorderly conduct charges typically involve disturbing the peace in a public space. For example, a bar fight doesn’t just affect the two people fighting; it also creates a disturbance that affects everyone in the bar. Another example of a public disturbance is being intoxicated in public and disturbing other people in the process. When police are called in to restore public order after a disturbance, it can lead to disorderly conduct charges.
Obstructing Traffic
Disorderly conduct charges may also apply to blocking traffic or public walkways without legal justification. For example, standing in the middle of the road during a protest – even when the necessary permit for protesting was obtained – can support a disorderly conduct charge.
Disruptive Behavior in Public
Disrupting the public as it goes about its business is another form of disorderly conduct. This can include disrupting a school, public park, or government building.
Fines and Penalties
In Tennessee, disorderly conduct charges are Class C misdemeanors punishable by up to $50 in fines and up to 30 days in jail. Furthermore, a conviction can mar your permanent record and lead to negative social consequences that may be more significant than you realize.
There are also aggravating factors that can enhance the charge and the attendant legal consequence, including all the following:
- Threatening violence
- Lashing out in violence
- Engaging in disorderly conduct near a school
Seek the Skilled Legal Counsel of an Experienced Nashville Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
If you’re facing a disorderly conduct charge, the experienced Nashville criminal defense attorneys at Raybin & Weissman recognize the significance of a conviction and are well prepared to advocate fiercely for the best possible outcome that supports your future. Contact us online or call 615-256-6666 today.