{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-law-10-201","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Criminal Law § 10–201","heading":"","body":"(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.\n(2) (i) “Public conveyance” means a conveyance to which the public or a portion of the public has access to and a right to use for transportation.\n(ii) “Public conveyance” includes an airplane, vessel, bus, railway car, school vehicle, and subway car.\n(3) (i) “Public place” means a place to which the public or a portion of the public has access and a right to resort for business, dwelling, entertainment, or other lawful purpose.\n(ii) “Public place” includes:\n1. a restaurant, shop, shopping center, store, tavern, or other place of business;\n2. a public building;\n3. a public parking lot;\n4. a public street, sidewalk, or right-of-way;\n5. a public park or other public grounds;\n6. the common areas of a building containing four or more separate dwelling units, including a corridor, elevator, lobby, and stairwell;\n7. a hotel or motel;\n8. a place used for public resort or amusement, including an amusement park, golf course, race track, sports arena, swimming pool, and theater;\n9. an institution of elementary, secondary, or higher education;\n10. a place of public worship;\n11. a place or building used for entering or exiting a public conveyance, including an airport terminal, bus station, dock, railway station, subway station, and wharf; and\n12. the parking areas, sidewalks, and other grounds and structures that are part of a public place.\n(b) For purposes of a prosecution under this section, a public conveyance or a public place need not be devoted solely to public use.\n(c) (1) A person may not willfully and without lawful purpose obstruct or hinder the free passage of another in a public place or on a public conveyance.\n(2) A person may not willfully act in a disorderly manner that disturbs the public peace.\n(3) A person may not willfully fail to obey a reasonable and lawful order that a law enforcement officer makes to prevent a disturbance to the public peace.\n(4) A person who enters the land or premises of another, whether an owner or lessee, or a beach adjacent to residential riparian property, may not willfully:\n(i) disturb the peace of persons on the land, premises, or beach by making an unreasonably loud noise; or\n(ii) act in a disorderly manner.\n(5) A person from any location may not, by making an unreasonably loud noise, willfully disturb the peace of another:\n(i) on the other’s land or premises;\n(ii) in a public place; or\n(iii) on a public conveyance.\n(6) In Worcester County, a person may not build a bonfire or allow a bonfire to burn on a beach or other property between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.\n(d) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 60 days or a fine not exceeding $500 or both.","path":["Article - Criminal Law"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcr\u0026section=10-201","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:57:08Z","sha256":"6428acf1ebac9d4adf9828684a331f075d002e3d14fa8ab90f83b585766dce39","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-law-10-137","next":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-law-10-202"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}