Disturbing the Peace in Los Angeles, CA

Facing Disturbing the Peace Charges? Call Stephen G. Rodriguez & Partners Now!

Disturbing the Peace is the crime of disorderly conduct that occurs when a person engages in annoying and unreasonable noise, uses offensive language, or engages in fighting.

California Penal Code section 415 makes the following unlawful:

• Fighting: It is a crime for a person to challenge another person to fight in public. Penal Code 415(1).

• Loud Noise: It is a crime for a person to maliciously and willfully disturb another person by loud and unreasonable noise. Penal Code 415(2).

• Offensive Words: It is a crime for a person to use offensive or fighting words which are likely to provoke an immediate violent response in another person. Penal Code 415(3).

Disturbing the peace in California is a "wobblette," meaning that prosecutors can charge disturbing the peace as a misdemeanor or an infraction. As a misdemeanor, the maximum sentence is 90 days of county jail, a fine, and up to three years of informal probation. An infraction is punishable by only a fine. A misdemeanor conviction of disturbing the peace as an infraction is not considered a crime.

Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys with 50+ Years of Experience

We are experienced Los Angeles criminal attorneys and we will put our experience to work for you to fight your Disturbing of the Peace charges. Although a Disturbing the Peace conviction does not come with any substantial jail time, the conviction will nevertheless remain a part of your permanent criminal record.

You do not have to be a seasoned criminal to be charged with a Disturbing of the Peace charge in Los Angeles. In fact, many people facing this type of charge are regular law-abiding folks with no criminal record, who have the misfortune of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. The simple truth is - keep your record clean.

A charge like this may be reduced to an infraction or dismissed entirely, especially if you have experienced criminal defense attorneys in your corner. Call us for a no-charge consultation to learn about your rights, defenses, and any and all your legal options.

Contact a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at the firm for steps you can take to avoid a disturbing the peace conviction.