Atlantic City has a long history as a fun town to visit. The casinos make sure that there are plenty of opportunities for gambling, drinks, food, and a good time. However, they want this to be done in what they believe is a safe and respectful manner. If security feels that someone “crossed the line,” they may call the police and ask for them to issue a disorderly conduct citation or put them in jail.
Depending upon the nature of the actions, disorderly conduct often results in a lower-level disorderly person offense with a ticket issued. There will likely be up to $1,000 in fines, but it can mean up to six months in jail. Other penalties can include drug or alcohol treatment, anger management classes, probation, license revocation, or some other form of rehabilitation or education.
What is disorderly conduct?
This charge is open to interpretation, but some common examples include:
- Aggressive speech: This can be loud or abusive language on the casino floor or in other public areas.
- Improper actions: These can be dangerous to others or the individual and it likely is regarded as an annoyance or serve no legitimate purpose. Physical or verbal altercations certainly would qualify.
- Public intoxication: Those impaired can cause a disturbance by engaging in disruptive behavior in the casino.
- Property theft: This involves the theft of inexpensive items.
It is best to protect your rights
Judges here in Atlantic City see an above-average number of disorderly conduct charges, but each has their thoughts on appropriate sentencing or penalties. Rather than apologize and leave it up to the court issue a penalty and/or fine, it can make more sense to work with an attorney who handles these kinds of matters. These legal professionals can help ensure that the sentence fits the offense, potentially avoiding costly fines or a criminal record, which limits personal freedoms or employment opportunities. These legal advocates can also argue for a client’s innocence if the client was acting in self-defense or was not actively involved in the disorderly actions.