quincy
Senior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Wisconsin
willjsamp, you asked about a disorderly conduct ticket you received after a visit to a hotel.
A brief summary of your thread: You were trapped in an overcrowded elevator at a hotel for about 45 minutes and you said the hotel staff did not seem concerned. In fact, you said the staff was rude. When you finally were able to open the doors to the elevator by yourself, after an uneasy up-and-down ride that caused you to have a panic attack, you expressed your displeasure. You shouted profanities at the staff in what was a customer-filled lobby. The police were called and you were ticketed for disorderly conduct.
You questioned whether the ticket could be dismissed on free speech grounds.
Here for your benefit is a link to Wisconsin's disorderly conduct law that I provided earlier, showing the elements of the offense: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/947/01
Although speech has always had limits, and some cities have ordinances that prohibit the shouting of obscenities in public, what you were apparently ticketed for was not your profane speech but rather you were ticketed over your conduct. You apparently disturbed the hotel guests and the hotel staff. You were ticketed because you caused or provoked a disturbance.
Because you are charged with a misdemeanor, you should speak to an attorney in your area to see if the charge can be reduced or dismissed. You do not want a misdemeanor on your criminal record if this can be avoided, as a criminal record can affect your employment opportunities, your educational plans, your loan and insurance rates, and your ability to travel out of the country. Given the circumstances that led to your outburst, however, you might have a decent shot at a dismissal.
Good luck.
willjsamp, you asked about a disorderly conduct ticket you received after a visit to a hotel.
A brief summary of your thread: You were trapped in an overcrowded elevator at a hotel for about 45 minutes and you said the hotel staff did not seem concerned. In fact, you said the staff was rude. When you finally were able to open the doors to the elevator by yourself, after an uneasy up-and-down ride that caused you to have a panic attack, you expressed your displeasure. You shouted profanities at the staff in what was a customer-filled lobby. The police were called and you were ticketed for disorderly conduct.
You questioned whether the ticket could be dismissed on free speech grounds.
Here for your benefit is a link to Wisconsin's disorderly conduct law that I provided earlier, showing the elements of the offense: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/947/01
Although speech has always had limits, and some cities have ordinances that prohibit the shouting of obscenities in public, what you were apparently ticketed for was not your profane speech but rather you were ticketed over your conduct. You apparently disturbed the hotel guests and the hotel staff. You were ticketed because you caused or provoked a disturbance.
Because you are charged with a misdemeanor, you should speak to an attorney in your area to see if the charge can be reduced or dismissed. You do not want a misdemeanor on your criminal record if this can be avoided, as a criminal record can affect your employment opportunities, your educational plans, your loan and insurance rates, and your ability to travel out of the country. Given the circumstances that led to your outburst, however, you might have a decent shot at a dismissal.
Good luck.