How Much Is a Disturbing the Peace Ticket in Louisiana?

According to RS 14:103 of the Louisiana Criminal Code, a disturbing the peace ticket is not more than $100. You also won’t be imprisoned for more than 90 days. Even so, we recommend talking to a New Orleans criminal defense attorney right away.

However, there are certain circumstances in which these penalties can be enhanced. For example, if you are charged with disturbing the peace at a funeral, you may be subject to higher fines (up to $500) and longer imprisonment (up to six months). So when asking “How much is a disturbing the peace ticket in Louisiana?” the answer may be a little more complicated than you think.

In order to have the best defense possible for your case, you’ll need to know exactly what you’re facing and hire a Louisiana disturbing the peace lawyer as soon as possible. Keep reading to learn more about what constitutes disturbing the peace in Louisiana, how much a disturbing the peace ticket is in Louisiana, and how the Law Office of Lance J. Robinson can defend you against a disturbing the peace charge. When you’re ready, please contact us for a free and confidential consultation.

Disturbing the peace , otherwise known as disorderly conduct, is a misdemeanor in Louisiana. There is a long list of behaviors that could land you a disturbing the peace ticket in Louisiana. But the most common reason for a disturbing the peace arrest is public intoxication .

Public intoxication is considered a form of disturbing the peace in Louisiana. According to state law, public intoxication isn’t a separate charge from disturbing the peace—it’s simply one of several reasons someone could be charged with disturbing the peace. However, in New Orleans, disturbing the peace and public intoxication can be treated as separate charges, though the penalties tend to be similar if not the same. In some cases, lewd conduct charges may be reduced to disturbing the peace as well.

Offenses that could result in a disturbing the peace ticket include:

• Fighting or otherwise acting violently or raucously in a group of three or more people.
• Public drunkenness or otherwise appearing to be under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, or other drugs with the potential to harm people or property.
• Using offensive, annoying, or derisive language or noises in order to annoy or offend others who are behaving lawfully in a public place.
• Interrupting a lawful assembly , such as a public meeting or peaceful protest.
• Unlawful assembly , meaning gathering a group of people with the intention of disturbing the peace.
• Intentionally disrupting a funeral , funeral route, viewing, wake, burial, or memorial service with disruptive language or behavior.

The complete and detailed list of each violation is available from the Louisiana State Legislature . In New Orleans specifically, Sec. 54-403 of the Municipal Code defines disturbing the peace with R.S. 14:103 of the Louisiana Criminal Code as the state law reference. It also includes threats and sexual language used to insult, injure, or provoke violence as disturbing the peace offenses.

Depending on which of these regulations you violate, and the severity of your punishment will vary. In New Orleans, disturbing the peace can be charged either under 54-403 of the Municipal Code or 14:103 under the State Statute. They are both the same conduct, and it is up to the police officer to decide which one to charge a person with for their behavior.

If you have any questions about whether or not your actions should legally be considered disturbing the peace in New Orleans or Louisiana, contact The Law Office of Lance J. Robinson for a free consultation. Depending on the details of your case, we can argue that your behavior was not purposefully disruptive, you were not acting with malicious intent, or your actions did not show sufficient evidence that they would incite public disorder or violence.

Disturbing the peace has a baseline penalty that can be enhanced depending on the specifics of the crime. This means that the answer to this question is case-specific. The penalties for one disturbing the peace case may not be the same as the penalties for another disturbing the peace case.

According to Louisiana Criminal Code , disturbing the peace can result in a fine of $100 or less, 90 days or less of imprisonment, or both . But if your offenses include disrupting, impeding, blocking, or inhibiting a funeral, funeral route, or burial service in any way, shape, or form, you are subject to more severe penalties. You could receive a fine of $500 or less, six months or less of imprisonment, or both .

Regardless of whether or not you receive these enhanced penalties, disturbing the peace is a charge that will go on your criminal record . If you do not get the charge expunged from your record, it can be found by anyone who performs a basic background check or accesses your arrest record at the courthouse.

Many people don’t realize that an arrest remains on your record even if the charges are dropped and you don’t face any penalties. This could negatively impact your future for years to come. If you have an arrest or conviction on your record, you could experience problems when:

• Applying for a new job
• Applying to a new school
• Renting a new apartment
• Applying for a loan
• Fighting for parental rights
• Applying for a professional license

As you can see, the penalties for disturbing the peace aren’t set in stone. When asking “How much is a disturbing the peace ticket in Louisiana?” the answer could be your freedom or future opportunities. Unless you get the charge expunged from your record , these consequences could outlast the penalties. Learn more about expungement in Louisiana from lead attorney Lance J. Robinson in the video below.

If you’re facing disturbing the peace charges, you don’t know what you’re up against unless you hire an experienced attorney to review and handle your case. The Law Office of Lance J. Robinson will fight to get your charges reduced or dismissed altogether, and we can help you expunge the arrest from your record.

To give yourself the best possible chance at beating a disturbing the peace charge, you need to seek legal help as soon as possible. At the Law Office of Lance J. Robinson, we will:

1. Appear in court on your behalf and enter a plea of not guilty, so you don’t have to come to court.
2. Review your paperwork for inconsistencies and technical errors that could result in a dismissal of your case entirely.
3. Review eyewitness testimony and reinterview witnesses if needed to provide evidence in your defense.
4. Negotiate for reduced charges , such as a smaller fine and court fees.
5. Prepare an aggressive defense to bring to court if your charges aren’t dropped completely or reduced to your satisfaction.
6. Remove your arrest or conviction from your record. With expungement, the charge and other evidence won’t be found on your public record and should not be accessible via background checks.

In order to convict you of disturbing the peace, the prosecutor must prove that you were acting purposefully and with malicious intent. In addition, they must share compelling evidence that your behavior could have lead to public disorder or violence. With our thorough review of the case against you and years of experience defending against disturbing the peace, the Law Office of Lance J. Robinson is well-equipped to defend you against the prosecution’s evidence.

The Law Office of Lance J. Robinson has over 22 years of experience dealing with the Louisiana legal system. We have defended hundreds of clients who faced disturbing the peace charges, and our comprehensive process for beating the charge combined with our aggressive approach is designed to get you the best possible outcome for your case. In most cases, we are able to avoid jail time for our clients and get their charges reduced or dismissed entirely.

Louisiana attracts thousands of visitors every year, and New Orleans is the center of the state’s tourism industry. Among our many events, you can find annual festivals, celebrations, shows, concerts, conferences, and sports franchises that draw huge crowds throughout the year. On top of everything else, Mardi Gras brings record numbers of tourists to New Orleans and the surrounding area.

Over time, Louisiana and New Orleans in particular have come to be thought of as party hotspots. With this in mind, it’s easy to understand why so many tourists and locals alike wind up in trouble with the law when they take the party a little too far. They get caught up in the revelry and simply underestimate the local law.

However, the laws here are just as strict as they are anywhere else. The police don’t tolerate disturbing the peace—or any other crimes for that matter. The laws in Louisiana concerning disturbing the peace and other related offenses can be confusing if you do not have a legal background, and what you don’t know can hurt you.

That’s why it is important to hire a lawyer who has proven experience in handling and resolving disturbing the peace cases and other misdemeanors in Louisiana. The Law Office of Lance J. Robinson is ready to take on your case today. We have offices conveniently located in both Metairie and Gretna, and we’re proud to serve clients in New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, St. John Parish, St. Charles Parish, and the surrounding area.

Contact the Law Office of Lance J. Robinson today to learn more about how we can get your disturbing the peace charges greatly reduced or even dismissed completely.