Disorderly Conduct
11 Del. C. § 1301 — fighting, unreasonable noise, blocking traffic, or refusing an order to disperse, as an unclassified misdemeanor
A person is guilty of disorderly conduct who intentionally causes public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or creates a risk of it, by:
- Fighting, or violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior.
- Unreasonable noise, an offensively coarse utterance, gesture or display, or abusive language to a person present.
- Disturbing a lawful assembly or meeting without lawful authority.
- Obstructing vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- Congregating with others in a public place and refusing a lawful police order to disperse.
- Creating a hazardous or physically offensive condition that serves no legitimate purpose.
Intentionally interfering with a school bus carrying students, by refusing to get off, blocking it, or threatening the driver or a passenger, is disorderly conduct too. A statement that a person plans to hire an attorney, seek a legal remedy or tell others about concerns is not a threat.
Disorderly conduct is an unclassified misdemeanor.
Speech has constitutional protection that a court weighs against the section. A particular charge is a question for a licensed Delaware attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- 11 Del. C. § 1301 — Disorderly conduct; unclassified misdemeanor
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Delaware attorney.