what are the consequences of fighting in public Tag

The Legal Consequences of Public Fighting

Street fighting, barroom brawls, and throwing a punch at a guy who steals your parking space. In the movies, these things never seem like a big deal. The worst thing that ever seems to happen to the characters who are involved in public fighting is that they spend a few hours in jail. Sadly, real-life doesn’t mirror the movies. California has public fighting laws. If you’re busted for public fighting in California, you’ll face serious consequences.

What is Public Fighting?

California considers public fighting to be a disturbing the peace crime. The issue is addressed in the Penal Code 415. When you read PC 415 you’ll discover that it doesn’t take much for an officer to decide that you're in violation of the law. PC 415 states that you can be charged with disturbing the peace if you’ve:

• Challenged another person to a fight while in a public place
• If you get into a fight with a person while in a public place
• If you’ve deliberately and maliciously used a loud noise to disturb someone
• If you’re caught using malicious language or words that are designed to hurt or provoke someone while you were in a public place