New Jersey Disorderly Conduct and Trespass Laws (2026)

New Jersey does not treat ordinary disorderly conduct as a crime. Under N.J.S.2C:33-2, fighting, threatening or tumultuous behavior and unreasonably loud, offensively coarse language in a public place are petty disorderly persons offenses, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. Concealing your identity with a mask during disorderly conduct (with purpose to instill fear, hinder prosecution or avoid apprehension) and disrupting a public gathering are disorderly persons offenses, punishable by up to 6 months and $1,000. Under N.J.S.2C:1-4, neither grade is a crime.

Criminal trespass is N.J.S.2C:18-3. Entering or remaining after notice against trespass (the defiant trespasser offense) is a petty disorderly persons offense; knowingly entering a structure without license or privilege is a disorderly persons offense; and that unlicensed entry becomes a crime of the fourth degree, punishable by up to 18 months and a fine of up to $10,000, in a dwelling, a school or on school property, utility company property, an airport's sterile or operational area, or one of the listed facilities, such as research facilities, power and water treatment plants and sites handling hazardous chemicals. For other states, see our guide to disorderly conduct and trespass laws by state.

Information last verified on 2026-10-18. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers New Jersey's state statutes on disorderly conduct (N.J.S.2C:33-2), related public-order offenses in chapter 2C:33, and criminal trespass and related entry offenses in chapter 2C:18, with the civil trespass penalties in Titles 4 and 23 and the grading rules in N.J.S.2C:1-4 and chapter 2C:43. It does not cover local noise ordinances and quiet hours (see New Jersey noise ordinance laws), the civil process for removing occupants (see New Jersey squatters' rights), use of force against intruders, civil trespass lawsuits, municipal ordinances, or rules on federal property.

What is disorderly conduct in New Jersey?

New Jersey's disorderly conduct statute, N.J.S.2C:33-2, has four subsections. Two are the long-standing offenses (improper behavior and offensive language), and two were added in 2025 (concealing identity during disorderly conduct, and disturbance at a public gathering).

Improper behavior, subsection a, requires a purpose to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or reckless creation of that risk:

"a. Improper behavior. Except as otherwise provided in subsection c. of this section, a person is guilty of a petty disorderly persons offense, if with purpose to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, the person: (1)Engages in fighting or threatening, or in violent or tumultuous behavior; or (2)Creates a hazardous or physically dangerous condition by any act which serves no legitimate purpose of the actor." N.J.S.2C:33-2a

Offensive language, subsection b, is also a petty disorderly persons offense. It applies when a person, in a public place, "with purpose to offend the sensibilities of a hearer or in reckless disregard of the probability of so doing, he addresses unreasonably loud and offensively coarse or abusive language, given the circumstances of the person present and the setting of the utterance, to any person present."

The statute defines "public" broadly: "affecting or likely to affect persons in a place to which the public or a substantial group has access; among the places included are highways, transport facilities, schools, prisons, apartment houses, places of business or amusement, or any neighborhood."

Is disorderly conduct a crime in New Jersey?

No. New Jersey grades its lesser offenses as disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses, and N.J.S.2C:1-4b(1) says they are not crimes:

"Disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses are petty offenses and are not crimes within the meaning of the Constitution of this State. There shall be no right to indictment by a grand jury nor any right to trial by jury on such offenses. Conviction of such offenses shall not give rise to any disability or legal disadvantage based on conviction of a crime."

They still carry jail and fines. Under N.J.S.2C:43-8, a court may impose a jail term of up to 6 months for a disorderly persons offense and up to 30 days for a petty disorderly persons offense. Under N.J.S.2C:43-3, the maximum fine is $1,000 for a disorderly persons offense and $500 for a petty disorderly persons offense.

Section 2C:33-2 sets no higher grade for a second or later conviction.

Swearing, yelling and fighting

Subsection b does not name swearing. It requires language that is both unreasonably loud and offensively coarse or abusive, addressed to a person present, in a public place, with purpose to offend the hearer or in reckless disregard of that probability. Fighting, threats and violent or tumultuous behavior fall under subsection a(1), again only with the purpose or recklessness that subsection names. Physical attacks themselves are graded under the assault statute; see New Jersey assault and battery laws.

Section 2C:33-2 has no separate noise subsection; its only volume element is the "unreasonably loud" language in subsection b. Noise from music, parties and equipment is covered on our New Jersey noise ordinance laws page.

Masks and disguises (2C:33-2c)

Since June 2, 2025, subsection c makes it a disorderly persons offense to conceal identity during improper behavior:

"c.Concealing identity. A person who attempts to conceal or conceals the person's identity by wearing a mask or disguise while engaging in a course of disorderly conduct, as defined in subsection a. of this section, with purpose to instill fear, hinder prosecution, or avoid apprehension is guilty of a disorderly persons offense."

A sentence at the end of subsection d, which opens "For purposes of this subsection," adds that "a person who wears a mask or disguise solely for medical, religious, or expressive purposes shall not be deemed to have acted with purpose to instill fear, hinder prosecution, or avoid apprehension," which are the purposes subsection c requires. The offense requires both subsection a conduct and one of the three listed purposes.

Disturbance at a public gathering (2C:33-2d)

Also new on June 2, 2025, subsection d reaches a person "who acts with purpose to disrupt or cause a disturbance at a public gathering or event or who engages in behavior knowing that it will disrupt or cause a disturbance at a public gathering or event." It is a disorderly persons offense, up to 6 months and $1,000.

Related public-order offenses in New Jersey

Chapter 2C:33 groups several other public-order offenses with disorderly conduct. Some of them are crimes.

Riot, failure to disperse and inciting a public brawl (2C:33-1)

Under N.J.S.2C:33-1a, a person commits riot by participating with four or more other people in a course of improper-behavior disorderly conduct under 2C:33-2a with purpose to commit or facilitate a crime, with purpose to prevent or coerce official action, or when the person or another participant known to the person uses or plans to use a firearm or other deadly weapon. Riot is a crime of the third degree when a firearm or other deadly weapon is used or planned; otherwise it is a crime of the fourth degree. A fourth-degree crime carries up to 18 months (N.J.S.2C:43-6a(4)) and a fine of up to $10,000; a third-degree crime carries 3 to 5 years (2C:43-6a(3)) and a fine of up to $15,000 (2C:43-3b).

Failure to disperse, 2C:33-1b, applies where five or more people are engaged in a course of improper-behavior disorderly conduct "likely to cause substantial harm." A peace officer may order the participants and others nearby to disperse, and a person who refuses or knowingly fails to obey commits a disorderly persons offense.

Inciting a public brawl, 2C:33-1c, was added by P.L.2025, c.59. It applies when a person acts with purpose to incite a group of four or more others imminently to engage in disorderly conduct under 2C:33-2a or d (or to produce that conduct), and the person's actions are likely to do so. It is "a crime of the fourth degree if the person acts with purpose to incite or produce the course of disorderly conduct defined in subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:33-2; otherwise, it is a disorderly persons offense."

Blocking roads, meetings and funerals

• Obstructing highways and public passages (N.J.S.2C:33-7): a person who, without legal privilege, purposely or recklessly obstructs a highway or other public passage commits a petty disorderly persons offense. "Obstructs" means renders impassable without unreasonable inconvenience or hazard. A person in a gathering who refuses a reasonable official order to move, to prevent obstruction or to disperse people from dangerous proximity to a fire or other hazard, commits the same grade. The section provides that no one is guilty of reckless obstruction solely because of a gathering to hear the person speak, or solely because of being part of such a gathering, and that an order to move addressed to a person whose speech or other lawful behavior attracts an obstructing audience is not reasonable if police control of the gathering's size or location could readily remedy the obstruction.
• Disrupting meetings and processions (N.J.S.2C:33-8): a disorderly persons offense if, "with purpose to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting, procession or gathering, he does an act tending to obstruct or interfere with it physically."
• Disrupting a funeral (N.J.S.2C:33-8.1): from one hour before a funeral's scheduled start until one hour after it ends, with purpose to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm (or recklessly creating that risk), knowingly blocking entry to or exit from the funeral, procession, funeral home or place of worship as part of demonstration activities, or engaging in demonstration activities within 500 feet and making noise, diversions or threatening gestures, or other disruptive conduct, that disrupts or tends to disrupt the funeral. It is a disorderly persons offense.

Loitering

New Jersey's state loitering offense is limited to drugs. Under N.J.S.2C:33-2.1, a person commits a disorderly persons offense if the person "wanders, remains or prowls in a public place with the purpose of unlawfully obtaining or distributing a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog" and engages in conduct that, under the circumstances, manifests that purpose. Chapter 2C:33 contains no general loitering, prowling, vagrancy, begging, unlawful assembly or affray offense, and no public-camping offense.

Public intoxication

Public intoxication is not an offense under New Jersey law. N.J.S.26:2B-16 provides that a person who is intoxicated in a public place "may be assisted to his residence or to an intoxication treatment center or other facility by a police officer or other authorized person," and that a person assisted to a facility "shall not be considered to have been arrested and no entry or other record shall be made to indicate that he has been arrested."

N.J.S.26:2B-26 bars any county or municipality from adopting a law or ordinance "rendering public intoxication or being found in any place in an intoxicated condition an offense, a violation or the subject of criminal or civil penalties or sanctions of any kind." It expressly leaves in place laws against driving after drinking or under the influence and similar offenses involving motor vehicles, machinery or hazardous equipment.

Separately, N.J.S.2C:33-15 covers a person under the legal purchase age who knowingly possesses or consumes alcohol in a public place: a first violation brings a written warning, and later violations bring a further warning or a write-up and, for those 18 or older, information about or a referral to community services.

Parents of juveniles (2C:33-2.2)

P.L.2025, c.245, effective January 12, 2026, added N.J.S.2C:33-2.2. A parent or legal guardian who showed willful or wanton disregard in supervising a juvenile faces:

• a $1,000 civil penalty if the juvenile was adjudicated delinquent for improper behavior under 2C:33-2a that resulted in property damage;
• a petty disorderly persons offense if the juvenile was adjudicated delinquent for a first offense of inciting a public brawl; and
• a disorderly persons offense if the juvenile was adjudicated delinquent for a second or subsequent offense of inciting a public brawl.

False public alarms (2C:33-3)

Under N.J.S.2C:33-3, knowingly initiating or circulating a false or baseless report or warning of an impending fire, explosion, crime, catastrophe, emergency or other incident that is likely to cause an evacuation or public inconvenience or alarm is a crime of the third degree, as is knowingly causing a false alarm to be transmitted to an organization that deals with emergencies. It is a crime of the second degree if the false alarm involves a bombing, a hostage situation, a person armed with a deadly weapon, critical infrastructure, or another incident that draws an immediate or heightened law enforcement or emergency response.

Placing a false or facsimile bomb along with the report is second degree (first degree during a declared period of emergency). A false alarm that in fact results in serious bodily injury, or occurs during a declared emergency, is second degree, and one that in fact results in death is first degree. Knowingly calling 9-1-1 without purpose of reporting the need for 9-1-1 service is a crime of the fourth degree, and a 9-1-1 call made with purpose to intimidate or harass because of race, religion or another listed characteristic is third degree.

Separately, N.J.S.2C:33-3.2 makes a violator (the section excludes juveniles) liable for a civil penalty of at least $2,000 or the actual cost of the law enforcement and emergency response, whichever is higher.

Railroads, transit and nuisances

Interference with transportation, N.J.S.2C:33-14, includes unlawfully climbing into or onto a light rail vehicle, locomotive or railroad car, whether moving or standing on the track. It is a disorderly persons offense, and a crime of the fourth degree if the person purposely, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury or causes a pecuniary loss of more than $500 but less than $2,000. It is a crime of the third degree if the person causes significant bodily injury or a pecuniary loss of $2,000 or more, or purposely or knowingly creates a risk of significant bodily injury, and a crime of the second degree if the person causes serious bodily injury.

Maintaining a nuisance, N.J.S.2C:33-12, is a disorderly persons offense under subsections a and b (conditions endangering the safety or health of a considerable number of people, and premises where people gather for unlawful conduct) and a crime of the fourth degree under subsection c (premises used for prostitution or obscene material).

Chapter 2C:33 also contains a separate harassment section (2C:33-4), which this page does not cover in detail.

Criminal trespass in New Jersey

New Jersey's main trespass statute, N.J.S.2C:18-3, contains three offenses (unlicensed entry of structures, defiant trespasser, and peering into dwellings) and a list of affirmative defenses. The grade depends on the place and on how notice was given.

Key definitions

Under N.J.S.2C:18-1, a "structure" means "any building, room, ship, vessel, car, vehicle, or airplane and also means any place for carrying on business therein, whether or not a person is actually present." "Utility company property" means property of a public utility, or of a municipality, county, water district, authority or other public agency, "used for the purpose of providing electric, gas or water utility service."

Unlicensed entry of structures (2C:18-3a)

A person commits an offense if, "knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, he enters or surreptitiously remains in any research facility, structure, or separately secured or occupied portion thereof, or in or upon utility company property, or in the sterile area or operational area of an airport." The base grade is a disorderly persons offense (up to 6 months and $1,000).

The same offense is a crime of the fourth degree (up to 18 months and $10,000) when committed:

• in a dwelling;
• in a school or on school property;
• in or upon utility company property;
• in the sterile area or operational area of an airport; or
• in a research facility, power generation facility, waste treatment facility, public sewage facility, water treatment facility, public water facility, nuclear electric generating plant, or "any facility which stores, generates or handles any hazardous chemical or chemical compounds."

New Jersey uses "crime" rather than "felony." Under N.J.S.2C:1-4a(1), an offense for which more than 6 months of imprisonment is authorized is a crime within the meaning of the state constitution, so these fourth-degree forms are New Jersey's most serious simple-trespass grade.

Defiant trespasser and what counts as notice (2C:18-3b)

The lowest trespass grade covers land and other places where the owner has given notice:

"b.Defiant trespasser. A person commits a petty disorderly persons offense if, knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, he enters or remains in any place as to which notice against trespass is given by: (1)Actual communication to the actor; or (2)Posting in a manner prescribed by law or reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders; or (3)Fencing or other enclosure manifestly designed to exclude intruders." N.J.S.2C:18-3b

That makes three kinds of notice: being told directly, posting that is prescribed by law or reasonably likely to be seen, and fencing designed to keep intruders out. The offense is a petty disorderly persons offense, up to 30 days and $500. The statute sets no repeat-offense escalation.

Is there a purple paint law? No. Chapter 2C:18 (sections 2C:18-1 to 2C:18-6), the agricultural trespass section in Title 4 (N.J.S.4:17-2) and the hunting-trespass section (N.J.S.23:7-1) contain no paint-mark provision.

When a store or owner tells you to leave

Being told to leave is "actual communication" under 2C:18-3b(1). A person who knows they are not licensed or privileged to be in a place, and enters or remains after that notice, commits the defiant trespasser offense. For places open to the public, 2C:18-3d(2) makes it an affirmative defense that "the structure was at the time open to members of the public and the actor complied with all lawful conditions imposed on access to or remaining in the structure."

Peering into dwellings (2C:18-3c)

A person commits a crime of the fourth degree if, knowing they are not licensed or privileged to do so, they peer "into a window or other opening of a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation for the purpose of invading the privacy of another person and under circumstances in which a reasonable person in the dwelling or other structure would not expect to be observed."

Statutory defenses (2C:18-3d)

Section 2C:18-3d provides that "It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that: (1)A structure involved in an offense under subsection a. was abandoned; (2)The structure was at the time open to members of the public and the actor complied with all lawful conditions imposed on access to or remaining in the structure; or (3)The actor reasonably believed that the owner of the structure, or other person empowered to license access thereto, would have licensed him to enter or remain, or, in the case of subsection c. of this section, to peer."

Farmland (2C:18-4 to 2C:18-6 and 4:17-2)

For the agricultural-lands offenses, "lands" includes land in agricultural use "where public notice prohibiting trespass is given by actual communication to the actor, conspicuous posting, or fencing or other enclosure manifestly designed to exclude intruders" (N.J.S.2C:18-4). Under N.J.S.2C:18-5 it is an offense to knowingly or recklessly operate a motorized vehicle or ride horseback on the lands of another without having, and carrying, the written permission of the owner, occupant, lessee or licensee, or to knowingly or recklessly damage tangible property on another's land, including fences, buildings, feedstocks, crops, live trees or domestic animals.

N.J.S.2C:18-6 grades those offenses by the loss caused: a crime of the third degree for a pecuniary loss of $2,000 or more, a crime of the fourth degree for more than $500 but less than $2,000, and a disorderly persons offense for $500 or less. On conviction the court must order restitution and impose a fine of at least $500 (third degree), $200 (fourth degree) or $100 (disorderly persons offense), and a person convicted under 2C:18-5 is also liable for the owner's reasonable costs of restoring the land or property, including reasonable attorney fees (2C:18-6b and c).

Separately, N.J.S.4:17-2 makes a person who trespasses on another's agricultural or horticultural lands liable to a civil penalty of not less than $100. A person who knowingly or recklessly drives a motorized vehicle or rides horseback there without the owner's written permission, or damages property there, is liable to a civil penalty of at least $1,000 plus the owner's reasonable restoration costs, including reasonable attorney fees (4:17-2b). Each day of a continuing violation is a separate offense.

Hunting, fishing and state fish hatcheries

N.J.S.23:7-1 governs trespassing to hunt, fish or trap. It applies after a notice "bearing the name of the owner, occupant, or lessee thereof, forbidding the trespass, has been conspicuously posted by the owner, occupant, or lessee with intervisible signs displayed not fewer than ten to a mile along the exterior boundaries and at all roads, trails and rights-of-way entering such land," or after the owner, occupant or lessee forbids the trespass. The penalty is civil: "not less than $100.00 nor more than $200.00 for the first offense." For each later offense it is $200 to $500 plus suspension of all licenses and privileges to take or possess wildlife for five years, and a suspended license is not reinstated until the holder completes the approved remedial sportsmen education program.

N.J.S.23:8-4 bars trespassing on land where a state fish hatchery or game farm operates, or damaging or removing its notices, "under a penalty of fifty dollars for each offense."

Railroad rights of way

N.J.S.48:12-152 provides that no person other than those connected with or employed on the railroad and acting within the scope of their employment "shall enter upon the right of way of any railroad or come into contact with any equipment, machinery, wires or rolling stock of any railroad." It does not prohibit passengers from using the parts of a railroad intended for passengers, or a person from using an established crossing. Climbing onto railroad cars is also interference with transportation under 2C:33-14 (above).

Squatting and forcible entry

The trespass and public-order chapters contain no squatting-specific offense and no criminal false-lease or squatting-fraud offense. Knowing unlicensed entry into a dwelling is a fourth-degree crime under 2C:18-3a. In the other direction, N.J.S.2C:33-11.1 protects occupants: after being warned by a law enforcement or other public official that it is illegal, a person who takes possession of residential property, or effects a forcible entry or detainer, without lawful execution of a warrant for possession or the consent of the occupant solely in possession, commits a disorderly persons offense. A person convicted under that section more than once within five years is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree (2C:33-11.1b). For the civil removal process, see New Jersey squatters' rights. Force against an intruder is governed by separate justification rules; see New Jersey self-defense laws.

Trespass versus burglary

Burglary under N.J.S.2C:18-2 adds a purpose to commit an offense inside. It covers entering a research facility or "structure other than a residential dwelling" that is not open to the public and that the actor is not licensed or privileged to enter, surreptitiously remaining in one, or trespassing on utility company property posted, fenced or enclosed against intruders. Burglary is a crime of the third degree, or of the second degree if, in the course of the offense, the actor purposely, knowingly or recklessly inflicts, attempts to inflict or threatens to inflict bodily injury on anyone, or is armed with or displays what appear to be explosives or a deadly weapon.

For homes, P.L.2024, c.83 (approved October 18, 2024) created residential burglary, N.J.S.2C:18-2.2, which applies when a person, with purpose to commit an offense inside, enters a residential dwelling or accommodation (or a separately secured portion) without license or privilege, or surreptitiously remains there knowing they are not licensed or privileged to do so. It is a crime of the second degree, subject to the No Early Release Act (N.J.S.2C:43-7.2). If the actor shows by a preponderance of the evidence a reasonable belief that no one other than a person acting in concert with the actor was present, it is still a crime of the second degree but is not subject to that Act. The same act created home invasion burglary, N.J.S.2C:18-2.1, a first-degree crime.

New Jersey disorderly conduct and trespass penalties at a glance

The ranges come from Title 2C's general sentencing sections, which apply to every Title 2C offense in the table: N.J.S.2C:43-8 (jail for disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses), N.J.S.2C:43-3 (fines) and N.J.S.2C:43-6a (prison terms for crimes). They do not govern the civil penalties in Titles 4 and 23. For the full grading scheme, see New Jersey felony and misdemeanor classes.

Recent changes to New Jersey's disorderly conduct and trespass laws

• P.L.2025, c.59 (approved June 2, 2025, effective immediately): added inciting a public brawl (2C:33-1c), concealing identity during disorderly conduct (2C:33-2c) and disturbance at a public gathering (2C:33-2d), and added the words "Except as otherwise provided in subsection c." to 2C:33-2a. Riot (2C:33-1a), failure to disperse (2C:33-1b), improper behavior (2C:33-2a(1) and (2)) and offensive language (2C:33-2b) were not substantively changed, and both remain at their earlier grades. The act has no delayed effective date.
• P.L.2025, c.245 (approved January 12, 2026, effective immediately): added parental liability for juveniles adjudicated for improper behavior causing property damage or for inciting a public brawl (2C:33-2.2).
• P.L.2024, c.83 (approved October 18, 2024): created residential burglary (2C:18-2.2) and home invasion burglary (2C:18-2.1), and amended 2C:18-2 so that general burglary covers structures other than residential dwellings. Unlicensed entry into a dwelling without a purpose to commit an offense remains the fourth-degree form of 2C:18-3a.
• Pending: S4525, introduced in the 2026 session, would amend 2C:18-1 and 2C:18-3. It is a bill, not law.

Federal law separately governs conduct on federal property and at the U.S. Capitol; see the disorderly conduct and trespass laws by state hub.

Related New Jersey and state-by-state guides

• Disorderly conduct and trespass laws by state
• New Jersey noise ordinance laws
• New Jersey felony and misdemeanor classes
• New Jersey squatters' rights
• New Jersey self-defense laws
• New Jersey expungement laws
• New York disorderly conduct laws
• Pennsylvania disorderly conduct laws

This article provides general legal information about New Jersey statutes, not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in New Jersey.

Last updated: 2026-10-18.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is disorderly conduct a misdemeanor in New Jersey?

New Jersey does not use the word misdemeanor. Improper behavior and offensive language under N.J.S.2C:33-2a and b are petty disorderly persons offenses (up to 30 days and $500), and the mask and public-gathering forms in 2C:33-2c and d are disorderly persons offenses (up to 6 months and $1,000). Under 2C:1-4, neither grade is a crime.

Can you get disorderly conduct for swearing in New Jersey?

The offensive-language clause, N.J.S.2C:33-2b, applies to language in a public place that is both unreasonably loud and offensively coarse or abusive, addressed to a person present, with purpose to offend the hearer or in reckless disregard of that probability. It is a petty disorderly persons offense.

Is public intoxication illegal in New Jersey?

It is not a state offense. Under N.J.S.26:2B-16 police may help an intoxicated person in a public place home or to a treatment facility, and that is not recorded as an arrest; N.J.S.26:2B-26 bars counties and municipalities from making public intoxication an offense. Driving-related alcohol offenses, and underage possession or drinking in a public place under 2C:33-15, are separate.

Is trespassing a felony in New Jersey?

New Jersey calls its serious offenses crimes rather than felonies. Knowing unlicensed entry into a dwelling, a school or school property, utility company property, an airport sterile or operational area, or a listed facility is a crime of the fourth degree under N.J.S.2C:18-3a, punishable by up to 18 months and $10,000. Other forms under 2C:18-3a and b are disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offenses; separate offenses such as peering into a dwelling (2C:18-3c) and vehicle or damage offenses on farmland (2C:18-6) can be crimes.

Does New Jersey have a purple paint law?

No. The trespass chapter (2C:18-1 to 2C:18-6) accepts notice by actual communication, by posting in a manner prescribed by law or reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders, or by fencing designed to exclude intruders, and contains no paint-mark provision.

What happens if a store tells you to leave in New Jersey?

Under N.J.S.2C:18-3b, a person who knows they are not licensed or privileged to be there and enters or remains in a place after notice against trespass is given by actual communication commits the defiant trespasser offense, a petty disorderly persons offense (up to 30 days and $500).

Is it illegal to wear a mask in New Jersey?

N.J.S.2C:33-2c makes it a disorderly persons offense to conceal identity with a mask or disguise while engaging in improper-behavior disorderly conduct, with purpose to instill fear, hinder prosecution or avoid apprehension. A sentence at the end of subsection d, framed as applying for purposes of that subsection, says a mask worn solely for medical, religious or expressive purposes is not treated as showing that purpose.

Is squatting a crime in New Jersey?

The trespass and public-order chapters contain no squatting-specific offense. Knowing unlicensed entry into a dwelling is a fourth-degree crime under N.J.S.2C:18-3a, and entering a residential dwelling with purpose to commit an offense inside is residential burglary, a second-degree crime under 2C:18-2.2.