What Happens If I Get Arrested on the Boardwalk While Visiting New Jersey?
The Atlantic City Boardwalk, the world’s first, offers casinos, rides, dining, and shopping, drawing over 20 million visitors yearly.
With the huge crowds and constant excitement, crime can happen quickly on the boardwalk. Stay alert, disorderly conduct charges are common and can happen before you know it. A criminal defense attorney from Melissa Rosenblum can help if you have been arrested.
Disorderly conduct is outlined in New Jersey Statute § 2C:33-2. The law generally applies when a person intentionally or recklessly causes public disturbance, annoyance, or alarm.
A person may be charged with disorderly conduct if they:
- Engage in fighting, threatening behavior, or violent or tumultuous conduct that creates public disturbance.
- Create a hazardous or physically dangerous condition through actions that serve no legitimate purpose.
Trespassing is also common among bar patrons who refuse to leave when asked to do so. The law also addresses offensive language in public places. A person may commit a disorderly conduct offense if they use unreasonably loud, abusive, or offensive language in a public setting to offend others or with reckless disregard for others.
What Tourists Need to Know
Just because you are on vacation, visiting the boardwalk does not mean you will not be arrested. When visiting New Jersey, the laws are the same for everyone, whether you are a resident or a visitor. You must follow the same rules, and you are subject to the same penalties as everyone else if you fail to do so. Tourists face the possibility of paying fines, going to trial, and serving time in a New Jersey jail if they commit a crime.
If you are arrested on a New Jersey boardwalk, the process moves quickly. You will be processed through the local municipal court and may be required to return to New Jersey for hearings. This can quickly disrupt your life and travel plans.
Even as a non-resident, the tourist will likely have to appear in a New Jersey municipal court. While some misdemeanor cases allow a lawyer to appear on the tourist’s behalf, this is not guaranteed. If a tourist returns home and ignores the charges, a bench warrant will be issued. This can lead to arrest in their home state and extradition back to New Jersey.
Contact Us Today
Boardwalk crimes are alarmingly frequent. Both property and violent offenses like stabbings, shootings, robberies, and assaults happen every year. You cannot afford to take any criminal charge lightly.
If you have been arrested, act promptly. Speak with an Atlantic City criminal defense lawyer from the Law Offices of Melissa Rosenblum, LLC today. We are ready to guide you, whether you are a New Jersey resident or a tourist. Call (609) 904-6262 or contact us online now to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward protecting your rights.