Tennessee Criminal Lawyer Blog

A New Zealand teen recently provided a perfect example of why disorderly conduct is considered a criminal offense. The teen, apparently under the influence of alcohol, decided that it might be fun to stand in the median of a four-lane highway and expose herself to drivers that passed. While this may seem like a plan that could not possibly go wrong, the prank turned a little less funny for the teen after she was hit by a driver who was distracted by her exhibition as she was trying to cross the road. The police inspector assigned to the case told the press that the girl was extremely lucky that the driver who hit her had slowed down because of her behavior. Although the girl rolled up onto the hood of the car and cracked the car’s windshield, she suffered only minor injuries. She was charged with disorderly behavior for her efforts. The personal injury consequences of her conduct are discussed on our injury law blog: http://www.tennesseeinjurylawyerblog.com.

The teen’s actions would constitute disorderly conduct in Tennessee. A person can be charged with disorderly conduct in this state any time they, in a public place and with intent to cause public annoyance or alarm, create a hazardous or physically offensive condition by any act that serves no legitimate purpose. Clearly the teen was in a public place and intended to cause a public annoyance when she was standing beside the road flashing passersby. The act’s hazardous effect is made obvious by the fact that the teen’s conduct sufficiently distracted a nearby driver to the point that he hit the teen with his car. The act also seems to have served no legitimate purpose, as it is hardly a legitimate purpose to prank passing motorists by showing them one’s private parts. Thus, the teen would more than likely be found guilty of disorderly conduct in Tennessee. Disorderly conduct is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to thirty days in jail and a fine of $50.

Source: http://www.denverpost.com/watercooler/ci_14010425