- disorderly conduct
-
Law.any of various petty misdemeanors, generally including nuisances, breaches of the peace, offensive or immoral conduct in public, etc.[1885-90]
* * *
Conduct likely to lead to a disturbance of the public peace or that offends public decency.It has been held to include the use of obscene language in public, fighting in a public place, blocking public ways, and making threats. Statutes against disorderly conduct must identify the specific acts that constitute it. The offense usually carries minor penalties.* * *
▪ lawin law, intentional disturbing of the public peace and order by language or other conduct. It is a general term including various offenses that are usually punishable by minor penalties.Disorderly conduct may take the form of directly disturbing the peace, as when one intentionally disrupts a public meeting or awakens a sleeping community. Less directly, it includes fighting in a public place, although it does not apply to one who defends himself on being attacked. Most jurisdictions penalize displays of public drunkenness. Some maintain vagrancy statutes that penalize persons found to be idle and without visible means of support. These may include prostitutes, beggars, gamblers, or alcoholics.* * *
Universalium. 2010.
