Disturbing the Peace Defense

If you have been arrested or received a summons for Disturbing the Peace Shreveport, Bossier, or other place in Louisiana, you may be wondering if this is serious and what you should do. If you are not wondering this, then you should be. This is a criminal misdemeanor charge that is currently on your criminal record as an arrest. The only way to get that removed is to get the case handled in a way that makes it eligible to be removed through the expungement process after the case is over. If you or your attorney does not know how to do that, the you will need the help our Shreveport criminal defense attorneys. This is what we do day in and day out. Check out the video to learn more about Disturbing the Peace in Louisiana. You can also view some of our practice areas here. You can also read this article to learn more about what you can expect if you work with us or any excellent criminal defense attorney.

What is disturbing the peace in Louisiana LRS 14:103?

The most common Disturbing the Peace charges we see are brought on when the defendant either gets into a fight in public, is drunk in public, or is just behaving badly in public. Police officers might add the charge if they are already making an arrest and the defendant starts cursing, throwing a tantrum or even resisting an officer. It’s very common to see Shreveport disturbing the peace charges go hand in hand with drug possession and DWI charges too.

Disturbing the peace is the doing of any of the following in such manner as would foreseeably disturb or alarm the public:

(1)  Engaging in a fistic encounter; or

(2)  Addressing any offensive, derisive, or annoying words to any other person who is lawfully in any street, or other public place; or call him by any offensive or derisive name, or make any noise or exclamation in his presence and hearing with the intent to deride, offend, or annoy him, or to prevent him from pursuing his lawful business, occupation, or duty; or

(3)  Appearing in an intoxicated condition; or

(4)  Engaging in any act in a violent and tumultuous manner by any three or more persons; or

(5)  Holding of an unlawful assembly; or

(6)  Interruption of any lawful assembly of people; or

(7)  Intentionally engaging in any act or any utterance, gesture, or display designed to disrupt a funeral, funeral route, or burial of a deceased person during the period beginning one hundred twenty minutes before and ending one hundred twenty minutes after the funeral or burial, within three hundred feet of the funeral or burial

(8)(a)  Intentionally blocking, impeding, inhibiting, or in any other manner obstructing or interfering with a funeral route.

(b)  Intentionally blocking, impeding, inhibiting, or in any other manner obstructing or interfering, within five hundred feet, with access into or from any building or parking lot of a building in which a funeral or burial is being conducted, or any burial plot or the parking lot of the cemetery in which a funeral or burial is being conducted, during the period beginning one hundred twenty minutes before and ending one hundred twenty minutes after the funeral or burial.

Penalties for Disturbing the Peace

Disturbing the peace in Louisiana carries up to 90 days in parish jail and/or a fine of up to $100. Furthermore, it is a stain on your permanent criminal record if not properly handled.

Defenses to Disturbing the Peace

Depending on the alleged facts that may support this crime, there might be factual or great legal defenses you might not have thought of, but the Barkemeyer Law Firm would tell you about them almost immediately. If you believe your case is the worst-case scenario and you are tempted to give up and plead guilty, hire the Barkemeyer Law Firm to work out a deal with the prosecutor to minimize the damage. The Barkemeyer Law firm would help in the development of solid defenses which would apply to your Disturbing the Peace charge in Shreveport or Bossier. The Barkemeyer Law Firm would diligently work as hard as possible to protect and guard you all through till your charge of this crime is a thing of the past.

Do You Need a Lawyer For a Disturbing the Peace Charge?

If you’ve been arrested for a disturbing the peace offense in Shreveport City Court or Caddo Parish District Court, you may be wondering whether you need a lawyer to fight the charge. In general, this type of offense is classified as a misdemeanor and prosecuted at the local level. While the charges and the legal process are fairly similar, the cost of hiring a lawyer will vary depending on the specifics of your case.

Getting a lawyer for a disturbing the peace charge in Shreveport

If you have been arrested for a disturbing the peace offense, you’ll need a lawyer as soon as possible. Although a disturbing the peace charge is a misdemeanor, it can have devastating consequences. The law governing this crime is very broad, and a police officer has considerable latitude to issue a summons. Even if you’re not the perpetrator, you should get a lawyer so you can protect yourself and your reputation.

Typically, a disturbing the peace charge entails the use of offensive language or being intoxicated in public. In some cases, it can also involve a fistic encounter. In other cases, the law may not call for an actual arrest. In these cases, a lawyer will argue that your behavior was merely disruptive. If your behavior was disruptive, it may be possible to prove that you were simply expressing your opinion.

In addition to addressing the allegations of domestic violence, a lawyer can help you get rid of your criminal record. If you are found guilty of a disturbing the peace charge, it’s imperative to get a top criminal defense lawyer to fight your case. A lawyer with experience and a proven track record in dealing with such cases can help you fight the charges and get your life back on track.

If you’re facing a citation for a disturbing the peace offense in Shreveport, you should be proactive. After all, if he or she fails to appear in court, the court can arrest him or her. However, if a judge finds no evidence to convict him, he can try to dismiss the case.

While it may seem difficult to find a lawyer for a disturbing the peace case in Shreveport, hiring a criminal defense attorney can help you protect yourself and your freedom. In fact, you may be able to save your job and avoid a costly criminal conviction by hiring a lawyer for the case. If you don’t, you can even file for a pre-trial diversion, which is often a much better option.

The first thing you should know about hiring a criminal defense attorney for a disturbing the peace charge in Shreveport is that a lawyer can help you make sure the police report is accurate. Regardless of whether the police report was accurate, a disturbing the peace charge will appear on your criminal record. A criminal defense lawyer will be able to protect your rights and help you get a dismissal.