SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No. 3507
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: FEBRUARY 13, 2025
The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably
Senate Bill No. 3507.
As reported by the committee, this bill creates the offense of
inciting a public brawl and upgrades the penalty for engaging in
disorderly conduct under certain circumstances.
Under the bill, a person is guilty of inciting a public brawl if the
person acts with purpose to organize or promote a group of four or
more other persons to engage in a course of disorderly conduct.
Inciting a public brawl is a crime of the fourth degree if the person
acts with purpose to disrupt or cause a disturbance at a public
gathering or event or knowing that a disruption or disturbance is
likely to occur; otherwise, it is a disorderly persons offense.
Additionally, the bill provides that a person who attempts to
conceal or conceals the person’s identity while engaging in a course
of disorderly conduct, with purpose to hinder prosecution or avoid
apprehension is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. The bill also
establishes that a person commits disorderly conduct by acting with
purpose to disrupt or cause a disturbance at a public gathering or
event and is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. Under current
law, a person who engages in a course of disorderly conduct
commits a petty disorderly persons offense.
A fourth degree crime is punishable by up to 18 months
imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A person who
commits a fourth degree crime may be eligible for entry into a
pretrial intervention program (PTI). The courts sets the conditions
of PTI, which may include random drug screening, community
service, mental health or substance abuse evaluations, and
compliance with treatment recommendations. A disorderly persons
offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six
months, a fine of up to $1,000 or both. A petty disorderly persons
offense is punishable by imprisonment of up to 30 days, a fine of up
to $500, or both. In the case of citations issued for petty disorderly
and disorderly persons offenses, appearance in court is mandatory.