2015 -- H 5417

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LC000652

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- DISORDERLY CONDUCT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Almeida, Diaz, McKiernan, Solomon, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2015

     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. -- (a) A person commits disorderly conduct if he or she

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intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:

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      (1) Engages in fighting or threatening, or in violent or tumultuous behavior;

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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

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provoke 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,

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

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

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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

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occupied 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

 

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

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

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changing room, dressing room, bedroom, or any other such private area, not withstanding

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notwithstanding any property rights the individual may have in the location in which the private

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area is located.

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      (8) [Deleted by P.L. 2008, ch. 183, ยง 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, pursuant to subsection

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(a)(6) or (a)(7) of this section or, any other subsection when the provisions of the domestic

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violence prevention act, chapter 29 of title 12, are applicable, shall be imprisoned for a term of

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

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person found guilty of the crime of disorderly conduct pursuant to subsections (a)(1) through (5)

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of this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500).

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

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

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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 provide that a person found guilty of disorderly conduct for certain

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actions involving lascivious purposes or a violation of the domestic violence prevention act

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would be subject to imprisonment for up to six (6) months or fined up to five hundred dollars

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($500), or both, while persons found guilty of disorderly conduct for other actions would only be

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subject to a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500).

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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