Were You Arrested and Charged with Disorderly Conduct at the St. Paddy’s Parade in Morristown, NJ?
The 39th annual Morris County St. Patrick’s Day Parade starts at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 10th in Morristown, NJ. The Morristown parade is the largest Saint Paddy’s celebration in New Jersey and should draw more than 50,000 people, if the weather isn’t too bad this weekend. The parade will begin at the Morristown Town Hall on South Street and go past the Morristown Green, ending at Morristown High School on Atno Avenue.
Although the parade is a source of fun for most of the people in attendance, it can also be a source of trouble for some people. Every year, numerous individuals are arrested and face criminal charges and municipal ordinance violations. The reality is that a lot of the people in attendance at the parade will be frequenting many of the local Morristown businesses, including bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. Since law enforcement expects alcohol to cause problems for some of the parade attendees, police will be out in full force to try to “keep the peace.”
The most common citation issued by Morristown law enforcement at the St. Patrick’s Day parade is for disorderly conduct. There will also likely be citations and tickets issued for underage drinking, disturbing the peace, open containers of alcohol, simple assault, and resisting arrest. Moreover, minors could be cited for possession of fake IDs, while others could be arrested and face criminal charges for smoking marijuana.
If you are arrested and charged with a crime or a municipal ordinance violation at this year’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Morristown, NJ, you need to talk to an experienced criminal attorney. The Morristown criminal defense lawyers at the Tormey Law Firm know how to help you fight your St. Patrick’s Day Parade charges and avoid a criminal conviction. Our skilled legal team has successfully gotten criminal charges downgraded or dismissed altogether. To discuss your case, call our office in Morristown at 973-524-7238 or fill out our online contact form.
Disorderly Conduct Charges & Penalties in Morristown, New Jersey
Disorderly conduct is one of the most common charges issued to individuals attending the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Morristown, New Jersey. That’s because disorderly conduct is a broad charge that covers a lot of behavior that might be considered “improper” by law enforcement – including the use of offensive language. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2, “improper behavior” means anything that causes or creates a risk of public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm. Sometimes, this can involve fighting or other physical altercations. In a lot of instances, Morristown police issue a citation for disorderly conduct after someone has been drinking alcohol and lost control. A conviction for disorderly conduct is New Jersey is punishable by a sentence of up to 30 days in the local county jail and a fine of $500.
Alcohol-Related Charges at Morristown St. Patrick’s Day Parade
A lot of criminal charges and ordinance violations issued at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Morristown involve alcohol. For example, police can issue citations for open containers of alcohol – this happens when a parade attendee leaves a bar or restaurant with an alcoholic drink in hand. Additionally, underage people in possession of alcohol or false identification are also often charged with criminal offenses on St. Patrick’s Day. Since people tend to drink on Saint Patrick’s Day, couples can become involved in domestic violence incidents stemming from their alcohol use. A domestic dispute in Morristown, NJ can result in serious criminal charges and a restraining order. Finally, DWI/DUI charges are commonly brought against people who get drunk and then attempt to drive home from the St. Paddy’s Day Parade.
Marijuana Possession Arrests & Charges at Morristown St. Paddy’s Day Parade
Until NJ legislators change the drug laws in the state, possession and use of marijuana is strictly prohibited by the New Jersey Criminal Code. As a result, thousands of people end up being charged with simple possession of marijuana under 50 grams throughout Morris County and the rest of NJ every year. During the Morristown Saint Paddy’s Day Parade, police will be on the lookout for people who smell of marijuana, people who are found smoking marijuana, and people who are driving in the area with marijuana in their car. If you are charged with simple possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana in Morristown, it is considered a disorderly persons offense. A conviction could lead to you being sentenced to up to 6 months in the Morris County Jail, fined up to $1,000, and the loss of your driver’s license for 6 months.
Were You Arrested on Saint Patrick’s Day? Contact an Experienced Morristown Criminal Lawyer Today!
If you attended the Morris County St. Paddy’s Day Parade and now face drug charges, alcohol charges, or disorderly conduct charges in Morristown, NJ, you need skilled legal representation. Contact the Tormey Law Firm in Morristown now at 973-524-7238 to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced criminal attorney.
For more information about this year’s Morristown St. Patrick’s Day Parade, visit the parade day website.