RHODE ISLAND
§ 11-45-1 Disorderly conduct. — (a) A person commits disorderly conduct if he or she intentionally, knowingly,
or recklessly:
(1) Engages in fighting or threatening, or in violent or tumultuous behavior;
(2) In a public place or near a private residence that he or she has no right to occupy, disturbs another person by
making loud and unreasonable noise which under the circumstances would disturb a person of average sensibilities;
(3) Directs at another person in a public place offensive words which are likely to provoke a violent reaction on the part of the average person so addressed;
(4) Alone or with others, obstructs a highway, street, sidewalk, railway, waterway, building entrance, elevator,
aisle, stairway, or hallway to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access or any other place ordinarily used for the passage of persons, vehicles, or conveyances;
(5) Engages in conduct which obstructs or interferes physically with a lawful meeting,procession, or gathering;
(6) Enters upon the property of another and for a lascivious purpose looks into an occupied dwelling or other building on the property through a window or other opening; or
(7) Who without the knowledge or consent of the individual, looks for a lascivious purpose through a window,
or any other opening into an area in which another would have a reasonable expectation of privacy, including, but not limited to, a restroom, locker room, shower, changing room, dressing room, bedroom, or any other such private
area, not withstanding any property rights the individual may have in the location in which the private area is located.
(b) Any person, including a police officer, may be a complainant for the purposes of instituting action for any violation of this section.
(c) Any person found guilty of the crime of disorderly conduct shall be imprisoned for a term of not more than six (6) months, or fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both.
(d) In no event shall subdivisions (a)(2) — (5) of this section be construed to prevent lawful picketing or lawful demonstrations including, but not limited to, those relating to a labor dispute.
§ 11-45-2. Indecent exposure – Disorderly conduct. — (a) A person commits indecent exposure/disorderly
conduct when for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification or stimulation, such person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:
(1) Exposes his or her genitals to the view of another under circumstances in which his or her conduct is likely to cause affront, distress, or alarm to that person;
(b) Any person may be a complainant for the purposes of instituting action for any violation of this section. This
act shall not apply to any conduct between consenting adults where the complainant is an unintended witness;
(c) Any person found guilty of, or who pleads nolo contendere to the crime of indecent exposure/disorderly
conduct, shall be imprisoned for a term of not more than one year, or fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both. Any subsequent offense shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of up to three (3) years;
(d) Counseling- Every person convicted of, or placed on probation for a violation of this section, may be ordered to attend appropriate professional counseling to address his or her behavior;
(e) In no event shall the provisions of this section be construed to apply to breastfeeding in public.
- NAC NOTE: § 11-45-2. Indecent exposure – Disorderly conduct took effect July 2, 2008, as a result of the passage of
Senate Bill 2916 from the 2008 RI legislative session.
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TITLE 45
Towns and cities
CHAPTER 45-6
Ordinances
SECTION 45-6-1
§ 45-6-1Scope of ordinances permissible. – (a) Town and city councils may, from time to time, make and ordain all
ordinances and regulations for their respective towns and cities, not repugnant to law, which they deem necessary
for the safety of their inhabitants from fire, firearms, and fireworks; to prevent persons standing on any footwalk,
sidewalk, doorstep, or in any doorway, or riding, driving, fastening, or leaving any horse or other animal or any carriage, team, or other vehicle on any footwalk, sidewalk, doorstep, or doorway within the town or city, to the
obstruction, hindrance, delay, disturbance, or annoyance of passersby or of persons residing or doing business in
this vicinity; to regulate the putting up and maintenance of telegraph and other wires and their appurtenances; to prevent the indecent exposure of any one bathing in any of the waters within their respective towns and cities;
against breakers of the Sabbath; against habitual drunkenness; respecting the purchase and sale of merchandise or commodities within their respective towns and cities; to protect burial grounds and the graves in these burial
grounds from trespassers; and, generally, all other ordinances, regulations and bylaws for the well ordering,
managing, and directing of the prudential affairs and police of their respective towns and cities, not repugnant to the constitution and laws of this state, or of the United States.
(b) Town and city councils shall furnish to their senators and representatives, upon request and at no charge, copies and updates of all ordinances and regulations.
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