public disturbance
Rowdy crowd scene
A public disturbance is conduct that disrupts the peace or order of a community—noise, fighting, rowdy behavior, or other actions that interfere with others' reasonable expectation of calm in shared spaces.
The term appears in legal contexts as a catchall for disorderly conduct: Police were called to a public disturbance outside the bar.
Creating one may result in arrest or citation.
- disorderly conductCriminal public disturbance charge
- drunk and disorderlyCharge for rowdy intoxication
- vandalismWillful property damage
- riotViolent public disturbance
- angry mobHostile crowd seeking retribution
unlawful assembly · street fight · unrest · noise complaint · protest · breach of peace · demonstration · crowd dynamics · crowd control · rowdiness · civil disobedience · tumult · rebellion · mass hysteria · activism · defiance · social upheaval · blocking traffic
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- misdemeanorsmisdemeanor, petty theft, disorderly conduct, petty larceny, shoplifting
- police beatcrime report, arrest record, traffic stop, burglary, theft
- public disturbancesriot, disorderly conduct, brawl, disturbing the peace, breach of peace
- public orderriot, breach of peace, disorderly conduct, unlawful assembly, civil unrest
- mob violenceriot, lynching, lynch mob, mob justice, vigilantism
public disturbancepublic order
Societal calm and lawfulness
peace · civil order · tranquility · calm · public peace
public disturbancepeaceful assembly
Nonviolent group protest
civic celebration · peaceful protest · community event · civil discourse · town hall meeting