Asbury Park NJ Disorderly Conduct Lawyers: Defending Your Rights

Asbury Park, New Jersey is a popular beach town that attracts thousands of tourists every year. With a thriving nightlife scene centered around bars and restaurants like Porta, Johnny Mac’s, and The Stone Pony, Asbury Park also sees its fair share of disorderly conduct charges.

What is Disorderly Conduct in New Jersey?

Disorderly conduct is considered a petty disorderly persons offense under New Jersey law. There are two types of disorderly conduct charges:

• Improper behavior – Engaging in fighting, threatening behavior, or creating a hazardous condition.
• Offensive language – Addressing “unreasonably loud and offensively coarse or abusive language” in public.

Some common examples of disorderly conduct charges in Asbury Park include fist fights, verbal arguments, public intoxication, and any behavior that could be seen as disturbing the peace. Defendants may also face additional charges like simple assault, underage drinking, fake IDs, and resisting arrest.

In Asbury Park, over 3,500 disorderly persons offenses were issued last year alone. The municipal court stays very busy handling these types of cases.

Disorderly Conduct Defenses in Asbury Park

Here are some of the most common defenses used to fight disorderly conduct charges:

• You were unlawfully arrested – If the police did not have probable cause to arrest you, any evidence obtained after that point may be inadmissible.
• Misidentification – Witnesses or police may have mistaken you for someone else involved in the incident.
• Self-defense – You may have acted in self-defense against an aggressor, which is legally permissible.
• Free speech – You have a First Amendment right to free speech, so offensive language alone is not necessarily disorderly conduct.
• Lack of criminal intent – Disorderly conduct requires acting “purposefully.” If your actions were accidental or without intent, you may not meet the criteria.
• Intoxication – Evidence of heavy intoxication could negate the possibility that you acted purposefully or knowingly.
• Mental health issues – Your mental health condition or a disability may also explain your behavior.

A skilled lawyer will look at every angle of your case to build the strongest defense strategy possible.

Why Hire an Asbury Park Disorderly Conduct Lawyer?

The vague language used in the disorderly conduct statute gives police a lot of leeway in making arrests. You need an assertive lawyer who thoroughly understands these charges and how to defend against them in Asbury Park.

Here are some key benefits of hiring a local lawyer:

• Knowledge of local laws & courts – An Asbury Park attorney regularly handles cases in the municipal court and understands how things work.
• Negotiation skills – Experienced lawyers have negotiating skills to advocate for dismissal or downgraded charges whenever possible.
• Trial experience – If negotiating fails, your attorney must be prepared and confident taking your case to trial.
• Avoiding a criminal record – The top priority is keeping the charges off your record if at all possible.
• Cost savings – The costs of fines, probation, and other penalties add up quickly. A lawyer maximizes your chances of minimizing costs.

No one wants to be stuck navigating the legal system alone. With an attorney guiding you, you can rest assured knowing your rights are protected each step of the way.