Disturbing the peace is a crime generally defined as the unsettling of proper order in a public space through one's actions.

This can include creating loud noise by fighting or challenging to fight, disturbing others by loud and unreasonable noise, or using offensive words likely to incite violence.

Disturbing the peace is typically considered a misdemeanor and is often punishable by either a fine or brief term in jail.


The concept of a "breach of the peace" is more widely used in English law, however. Theoretically all criminal offences cognizable by English law involve "a breach of the King's (or Queen's) Peace, and all indictments conclude "against the Peace of our Lord the King (Queen), his (her) Crown and Dignity".


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Section 10.30.310 Disturbing public peace and quiet with a motor vehicle.


It is unlawful for any person operating a motor vehicle to disturb the public peace and quiet by squealing the tires of a motor vehicle during rapid acceleration or deceleration or otherwise causing the tires of a motor vehicle to emit loud or offensive noise or sound, raising or gunning the motor of a motor vehicle, honking of the horn of a motor vehicle, or by any noise which is unnecessary to the normal and/or safe operation of a motor vehicle. (Ord. 91/T-10306)