Nashville Disorderly Conduct Attorney

The charge of disorderly conduct is a criminal offense in Tennessee, and the crime refers to causing a public inconvenience or annoyance or generating unnecessary alarm. Prime examples include fights, excessive noise in public places, and the creation of 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 intention of disrupting the peace or of engaging in reckless actions in public suffices.

Public Disturbances

The term public disturbance is vague, but disorderly conduct charges tend to relate to disturbing the peace in a public space. For example, a bar fight doesn’t just affect the two people fighting but, instead, 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 the police are called in to restore public order in the wake of a disturbance, it can lead to charges of disorderly conduct.

Obstructing Traffic

Disorderly conduct charges can also apply to instances of blocking traffic or public walkways without a legal justification for doing so. 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 causing a disruption in a school, public park, or government building.

Fines and Penalties

In Tennessee, disorderly conduct charges are Class C misdemeanors that carry fines of up to $50 and jail sentences of up to 30 days. Further, a conviction can mar your permanent record and can lead to negative social consequences, which can be more significant than you may realize.

There are also aggravating factors that can enhance the charge and the attendant legal consequences, 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 practiced Nashville criminal defense attorneys at Raybin & Weissman recognize the significance of a conviction and are well prepared to fiercely advocate for an optimal case outcome that supports your future. Learn more about what we can do to help you by contacting us online or calling 615-256-6666 today.