Public safety crimes are crimes that often seem trivial. These crimes are important because they help officers deal with situations before they get out of control. Public safety crimes are violations that can lead to physical harm of a person or persons. Many times these crimes are very subjective, enforced only against the lower class and border on infringement of a person’s rights. However, most survive constitutional challenges under the guise of being in the interest of public safety.
There are a lot of dangerous and stupid things people do when they're intoxicated, other than get behind the wheel of a car. People walk out into traffic and get run over, people jump off of balconies trying to reach a swimming pool and miss. – Carolyn Beck
The most common public safety violations are
Disorderly Conduct is the crime most often charged when you are out in public, yelling and trying to fight.
- In some states, such as California, disorderly conduct can include your participating in, or attempting to participate in other crimes, such as loitering or soliciting a prostitute.
- In places such as Minnesota or Indiana, you just need to be causing a scene.
- In other states or counties, this crime is combined with disorderly intoxication and the state must show you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Disturbing the Peace is the crime a person is charged with if the stereo is too loud or if the dog is barking all night. But it can also be charged if you are screaming obscenities in the street at the top of your lungs.
Public Intoxication is charged when you are so drunk you become a danger to yourself or others. Usually when you are intoxicated to this extent you are falling or staggering in the road causing a possible hazard to traffic (both pedestrian and vehicle traffic). Or you become belligerent and start harassing people who are walking by causing them to feel uncomfortable or frightened. It is sometimes the change you receive when you are drunk and urinating in public or taking off clothing.
These crimes are seen as necessary to stop other crimes before they happen. If law enforcement can make an arrest while two people are shouting at each other before the first person swings, then maybe they can prevent a fight that will result in serious injury. If an officer can arrest a person who is falling down drunk in the street, maybe that person will not fall into traffic and be injured.
The most common punishment for a public safety violation is a fine, or in some instances an overnight stay in the jail. Most jurisdictions do not punish these crimes very harshly. The intent of the law is to remove an individual from the situation before it escalates into something more serious. But if you are a repeat offender you could face up to one year in jail.
