When you are in Pittsburgh, whether out having a good time at a bar or with some friends, you need to be sure you do not fall on the wrong side of the law. Even though drunk and disorderly charges may seem relatively minor, they need to be taken seriously. At SMT Legal, our knowledgeable and experienced criminal defense attorney is ready to help you if you are facing any of the charges associated with being intoxicated and disorderly in public. Let our Pittsburgh drunk and disorderly attorney get to work investigating what happened so we can get the charges against you reduced or dropped altogether.
What Kind of Charges Can a Person Face?
There is no actual “drunk and disorderly conduct” charge on the books in Pennsylvania, despite it being a well-known phrase. Today, we want to talk about two charges that a person who has been alleged to be intoxicated and disorderly may face – disorderly conduct and public intoxication.
Disorderly conduct charges are typically applied when a person has caused a public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm by:
- Fighting or threatening other people
- Making an unreasonable noise
- Using obscene language or making an obscene gesture
- Creating a hazardous or physically offensive situation
Under the law, these charges are typically a summary offense that is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $300. However, if it is determined that a person intended to cause substantial harm or inconvenience (or if a person continues to persist in their conduct after a reasonable warning to stop), this charge can become a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
Public intoxication charges are typically applied to someone who is accused of public drunkenness to the degree in which they could be a danger to themselves, other people, or property around them. This charge is also a summary offense that is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $500 for the first violation. Subsequent violations can see a fine of up to $1,000.
In many cases, a person can face a disorderly conduct charge along with a public drunkenness charge. Please understand that these charges can impact you beyond jail time and fines. You could also have trouble getting or maintaining a job or getting accepted to colleges after a guilty conviction.
Pittsburgh Drunk and Disorderly Attorneys
If you or someone you know are facing charges related to drunk or disorderly conduct, you should consider seeking legal assistance immediately. Do not consider these charges to be simply “minor.” They can affect your life. At SMT Legal, we will work to get to the bottom of what happened so you can get the charged dropped or dismissed. When you need a drunk and disorderly attorney in Pittsburgh, you can contact us for a free consultation.