Maryland Statutes
Subtitle 2 - Disturbing the Peace, Disorderly Conduct, and Related Crimes
Section 10-201 - Disturbing the Public Peace and Disorderly Conduct

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

Structure Maryland Statutes