Question

worksheet: public nuisance law review
name: date:
part a - definitions (fill in the blank)

1. prowling means loitering or wandering on someones private property without or.
2. peeping occurs when someone looks into a window or door of an building without business.
3. disturbing the peace includes unlawful fighting, loud or unreasonable noise, and using words likely to provoke violence.
4. obstruction of a public way means the free movement of another person in a public area.

part b - scenarios (circle the correct answer)

1. a man stands on a busy sidewalk yelling about bad service but lets people walk by.

○ a) obstruction of public way
○ b) disturbing the peace
○ c) no crime

1. a teenager sneaks into a yard at night to look through windows.

○ a) prowling
○ b) peeping
○ c) both a and b

1. a driver blasts music at 3 a.m. waking neighbors.

○ a) loud noise / disturbing the peace
○ b) protected speech
○ c) prowling

1. a group blocks a store entrance, refusing to move.

○ a) disturbing the peace
○ b) obstruction of public way
○ c) prowling

Explanation:

• Part A
• 1: Prowling typically requires absence of permission (consent) and a legitimate reason (lawful business).
• 2: Peeping involves looking into a non - public (occupied) building without a proper (lawful) business - related reason.
• 3: Disturbing the peace with words often involves offensive (fighting) words.
• 4: Obstruction of a public way is about hindering (blocking) movement.
• Part B
• 1: Yelling (loud noise) is disturbing the peace as he is not blocking movement (so not obstruction) and it's a crime related to noise.
• 2: Sneaking into a yard (prowling) and looking through windows (peeping) both occur.
• 3: Blasting music at an unreasonable time (loud noise/disturbing the peace).
• 4: Blocking a store entrance (a public way in the context of access) is obstruction of public way.

Answer:

• Part A

1. consent; lawful business
2. occupied; lawful
3. fighting
4. blocking

• Part B

1. b) Disturbing the peace
2. c) Both a and b
3. a) Loud noise / Disturbing the peace
4. b) Obstruction of public way