Section 10-201 - Disturbing the public peace and disorderly conduct. - Maryland Statutes

§ 10-201. Disturbing the public peace and disorderly conduct.
 

(a)  Definitions.-  

(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 

(2) (i) "Public conveyance" means a conveyance to which the public or a portion of the public has access to and a right to use for transportation. 

(ii) "Public conveyance" includes an airplane, vessel, bus, railway car, school vehicle, and subway car. 

(3) (i) "Public place" means a place to which the public or a portion of the public has access and a right to resort for business, dwelling, entertainment, or other lawful purpose. 

(ii) "Public place" includes: 

1. a restaurant, shop, shopping center, store, tavern, or other place of business; 

2. a public building; 

3. a public parking lot; 

4. a public street, sidewalk, or right-of-way; 

5. a public park or other public grounds; 

6. the common areas of a building containing four or more separate dwelling units, including a corridor, elevator, lobby, and stairwell; 

7. a hotel or motel; 

8. a place used for public resort or amusement, including an amusement park, golf course, race track, sports arena, swimming pool, and theater; 

9. an institution of elementary, secondary, or higher education; 

10. a place of public worship; 

11. a place or building used for entering or exiting a public conveyance, including an airport terminal, bus station, dock, railway station, subway station, and wharf; and 

12. the parking areas, sidewalks, and other grounds and structures that are part of a public place. 

(b)  Construction of section.- For purposes of a prosecution under this section, a public conveyance or a public place need not be devoted solely to public use. 

(c)  Prohibited.-  

(1) A person may not willfully and without lawful purpose obstruct or hinder the free passage of another in a public place or on a public conveyance. 

(2) A person may not willfully act in a disorderly manner that disturbs the public peace. 

(3) A person may not willfully fail to obey a reasonable and lawful order that a law enforcement officer makes to prevent a disturbance to the public peace. 

(4) A person who enters the land or premises of another, whether an owner or lessee, or a beach adjacent to residential riparian property, may not willfully: 

(i) disturb the peace of persons on the land, premises, or beach by making an unreasonably loud noise; or 

(ii) act in a disorderly manner. 

(5) A person from any location may not, by making an unreasonably loud noise, willfully disturb the peace of another: 

(i) on the other's land or premises; 

(ii) in a public place; or 

(iii) on a public conveyance. 

(6) In Worcester County, a person may not build a bonfire or allow a bonfire to burn on a beach or other property between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. 

(d)  Penalty.- A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 60 days or a fine not exceeding $500 or both. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 27, § 121; 2002, ch. 26, § 2.]