The lawyers at Ashbach Law Offices, LLC provide aggressive, strong defense for those charged with Disorderly Conduct allegations throughout Skagit, Snohomish, King and Whatcom Counties. Our goal is to aggressively protect you, your family and your interests from the prosecution, saving jail time, licenses, occupations and reputations. With offices in Marysville and Mill Creek, Washington, we are available to meet you discuss your case. We help good people in bad situations. Let us help you.
In General
Under state law, there are generally four methods for allegedly committing Disorderly Conduct. However, many municipal codes had additional listed methods of allegedly engaging in Disorderly Conduct behavior. Many of these are subject on United States and Washington State constitutional challenges, such as free speech, freedom to assemble and others.
Classification
Regardless of city or state laws, Disorderly Conduct is punishable as a Simple Misdemeanor. This means a sentence maximum of up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1000 fine, with up to two years of probation. There is no mandatory minimum fine or jail.
State Law Charges
The most commonly-seen charge of Disorderly Conduct involves the alleged use of abusive language, thereby intentionally creating the risk of assault. No assault needs to have taken place.
Less commonly seen are the allegations of a) intentionally disrupting any lawful assembly or meeting of persons without lawful authority, b) intentionally obstructing vehicular or pedestrian traffic without lawful authority, or c) intentionally engaging in fighting or in tumultuous conduct or making unreasonable noise, within five hundred feet of activities related to a funeral or memorial service, while knowing that the actions adversely affected that funeral or memorial activity.
Municipal Law Charges
Most cities and municipalities have adopted the state Disorderly Conduct definitions into their own municipal codes. In addition to the four methods for state charges of Disorderly Conduct, many cities have defined other methods of committing Disorderly Conduct, such as doing acts “which tend to or do stir up public peace, provoke disorder, or endanger the safety of others.”
Local city ordinances violations of Disorderly Conduct are also Simple Misdemeanors.
Under state law, a person is guilty of disorderly conduct if he or she
- a) Uses abusive language and thereby intentionally creates a risk of assault;
- b) Intentionally disrupts any lawful assembly or meeting of persons without lawful authority’
- c) Intentionally obstructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic without lawful authority; or
- d)
- a. Intentionally engages in fighting or in tumultuous conduct or makes unreasonable noise, within five hundred feet of:
- i. The location where a funeral or burial is being performed;
- ii. A funeral home during the viewing of a deceased person;
- iii. A funeral procession, if the person described in this subsection (1)(d) knows that the funeral
procession is taking place; or - iv. A building in which a funeral or memorial service is being conducted; AND
- b. Knows that the activity adversely affects the funeral, burial, viewing, funeral procession, or memorial service
- a. Intentionally engages in fighting or in tumultuous conduct or makes unreasonable noise, within five hundred feet of:
Ashbach Law Offices, LLC, aggressively represents clients charged with Disorderly Conduct offenses throughout the Washington I-5 corridor, covering Skagit, Snohomish, King and Whatcom Counties. Regular courts of practice include, but are not limited to, Anacortes, Arlington, Bellevue, Bellingham, Blaine, Burlington, Edmonds, Everett, Issaquah, Lynnwood, Marysville, Monroe, Mount Vernon, Mountlake Terrance, Redmond, Seattle, Sedro Woolley and Shoreline.