2023 -- H 5572

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- DISORDERLY CONDUCT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Batista, Craven, Knight, Potter, Cruz, Alzate, and Felix

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2023

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 11-45-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-45 entitled "Disorderly

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Conduct" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     11-45-1. Disorderly conduct.

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     (a) A person commits disorderly conduct if he or she intentionally, knowingly, or

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recklessly:

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     (1) Engages in fighting or threatening, or in violent or tumultuous behavior in such a way

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that creates an actual public disturbance as evidenced by situations that include, but are not limited

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to, a gathering of people drawn to and watching the conduct, stopping, impeding or causing traffic,

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or creating similar public disturbances;

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     (2) In a public place or near a private residence that he or she has no right to occupy,

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disturbs another person by making loud and unreasonable noise which under the circumstances

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would disturb a person of average sensibilities;

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     (3) Directs at another person in a public place offensive words which are likely to provoke

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a violent reaction on the part of the average person so addressed;

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     (4) Alone or with others, obstructs a highway, street, sidewalk, railway, waterway, building

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entrance, elevator, aisle, stairway, or hallway to which the public or a substantial group of the public

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has access or any other place ordinarily used for the passage of persons, vehicles, or conveyances;

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     (5) Engages in conduct which obstructs or interferes physically with a lawful meeting,

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procession, or gathering;

 

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     (6) Enters upon the property of another and for a lascivious purpose looks into an occupied

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dwelling or other building on the property through a window or other opening; or

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     (7) Who without the knowledge or consent of the individual, looks for a lascivious purpose

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through a window, or any other opening into an area in which another would have a reasonable

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expectation of privacy, including, but not limited to, a restroom, locker room, shower, changing

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room, dressing room, bedroom, or any other such private area, notwithstanding any property rights

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the individual may have in the location in which the private area is located.

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     (8) [Deleted by P.L. 2008, ch. 183, § 1].

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     (b) Any person, including a police officer, may be a complainant for the purposes of

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instituting action for any violation of this section.

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     (c) Any person found guilty of the crime of disorderly conduct shall be imprisoned for a

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term of not more than six (6) months, or fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both.

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     (d) In no event shall subdivisions (a)(2) — (5) of this section be construed to prevent lawful

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picketing or lawful demonstrations including, but not limited to, those relating to a labor dispute.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- DISORDERLY CONDUCT

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     This act would define, under the disorderly conduct statute, engaging in fighting or

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threatening, or in violent or tumultuous behavior to include and specify it as conduct that creates

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an actual public disturbance as evidenced by situations that include, but are not limited to, a

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gathering of people drawn to and watching the conduct, stopping, impeding or causing traffic, or

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creating similar public disturbances.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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