Disorderly Conduct for Teenagers Fighting in Public

Teenagers are warned to check their behavior while out in the community and to refrain from fighting in public which can result in disorderly conduct charges.

Creating a precarious situation

Public places should be safe for everyone.  If teens have caused a scene in which people feel unsafe or as Utah Code 76-9-102 states “knowingly create[d] a hazardous or physically offensive condition, by any act which serves no legitimate purpose”, they may face charges of disorderly conduct.

Public fighting

One way in which teens may cause a hazardous situation is when fighting in public.  Arguments can escalate quickly into fights between friends or foe with no regard of place or audience, which leaves teenagers with the choice of ending the scuffle before it gets out of hand or facing charges of disorderly conduct.  Utah Code 76-9-102 addresses this type of behavior as “intending to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, the person:

• Engages in fighting or in violent, tumultuous, or threatening behavior;

• Makes unreasonable noises in a public place;

• Makes unreasonable noises in a private place which can be heard in a public place;[…]”

Although “unreasonable noises” doesn’t specify arguments, any loud noise such as quarreling that gets too loud could constitute disorderly conduct, even if no punches are thrown.

Leave when asked

If teenagers start or continue a fight in public which can cause those around them to be fearful, they may receive an infraction for disorderly conduct.  Law enforcement will usually try and resolve the situation quickly and peacefully by asking those involved to leave.  Continuing with the bout or failure to leave when asked by law enforcement can result in a class C misdemeanor for disorderly conduct.  Any teenagers facing charges such as disorderly conduct from public fighting are encouraged to speak with a juvenile defense attorney.