18-9-106 CRS – Colorado “Disorderly Conduct” Laws

18-9-106 CRS is the Colorado statute that defines the crime of disorderly conduct. This section makes it a crime to breach the peace, cause a disturbance, fight in public, discharge a firearm or display a deadly weapon. Disorderly conduct can lead to misdemeanor or petty offense charges.

In this article, our Denver Colorado criminal defense lawyers will discuss:

• 1. What Is Disorderly Conduct?
• 2. What Is The Penalty For A Disorderly Conduct Conviction?
• 3. Are There Any Defenses I Can Raise?

1. How does Colorado law define “Disorderly Conduct”?

Disorderly conduct is addressed in the Colorado Revised Statutes, section 18-9-106. In order to commit this offense an individual must “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly” do any of the following:

• Make a coarse and obviously offensive utterance, gesture, or display in a public place that . . . tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace
• Make unreasonable noise in a public place or near a private residence that he has no right to occupy
• Fight with another in a public place except in an amateur or professional contest of athletic skill
• Discharge a firearm in a public place
• Display a deadly weapon…or represent verbally or otherwise that he or she is armed with a deadly weapon in a public place in a manner calculated to alarm”¹

2. What are the penalties?

Under Colorado law, the penalty / punishment / jail time that you can face if you are convicted of disorderly conduct varies depending on the conduct that led to the conviction.

If you are charged with a Class 1 Petty Offense in Colorado, you can be punished² by:

• A fine up to $500, and/or,
• Up to 6 months in jail

If you charged with a Class 3 misdemeanor in Colorado³, the penalty for this offense includes:

• A fine ranging from $50 up to $750, and/or,
• Up to 6 months in jail

If you are charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor in Colorado⁴, the penalty may include:

• A fine ranging from $250 up to $1,000, and/or,
• A jail sentence ranging from 3 months to 12 months

3. Are there any defenses I can raise?

Yes, there may be a defense available depending on the facts and circumstances of your case.

For example, if you were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct while protesting, you may be able to raise a defense that you were exercising your First Amendment rights.

Another instance where you may be able to raise a valid defense is if you were defending yourself and were subsequently arrested for fighting. If you were only in the fight to begin with so as to defend yourself from harm, you can claim your actions were justified under Colorado’s self-defense laws.

Call Us For Help

If you have been charged or someone you know has been charged with disorderly conduct, contact our office today for a free consultation. We invite you to call our Colorado office or fill out the contact form.

Arrested in Nevada? See our article on Nevada breach of peace laws.

Arrested in California? See our article on California disturbing the peace laws and California disorderly conduct laws.

Legal References