Exam 12: Public Disorder,Indecency,Health,and Safety Offenses

Every Friday night,Mel organizes a poker game in his home.Friends from the neighborhood and his work join in the game.At the end of a typical evening the winner will walk away with about $30.Under Texas law,the winner is in violation of the gambling statute but the losers are not.

Do additional locations exist that should be included in the places weapons are prohibited statute? Cite examples.

Under Texas law,any knife with a blade over six inches long is considered to be a prohibited weapon.

Explain the penalty structure established for unlawful possession of various drugs under the Texas Controlled Substances Act.

Anti-abortion protesters lie down on the sidewalk and block the doorway to a medical clinic where abortions are rumored to be performed.Patients are unable to enter the clinic.The police order the protesters to move but they refuse.The protesters are committing obstructing a passageway.

Under Texas law,an unreasonable noise is any noise that two or more persons finds annoying.

Renee owns and operates a massage parlor.The massage parlor is actually a front for a prostitution business.Renee oversees six different women who primarily work as prostitutes.She provides them a room in her parlor and receives a percentage of the fees they charge.After several weeks of undercover investigation,the police raid the massage parlor and arrest Renee and the other women.Under Texas law Renee has committed:

After six years,Roscoe is finally graduating from college.In celebration he invites 20 of his friends to a party being held at his apartment.As the party continues into the nighttime hours,neighbors call Roscoe to complain.He simply replies,"Loosen up.My days in college are over and I will be gone tomorrow." About midnight,several neighbors call the police and complain about the noise.A police officer responds to the scene and asks Roscoe to calm down the sound.Roscoe agrees but 30 minutes later several neighbors call the police again.The same police officer returns to the apartment complex and determines he can hear the party from inside his patrol car while parked on the city street.At this point the officer:

Tiffany has worked as a prostitute for three years.One evening,she approaches a man in the bar of a hotel.She strikes up a conversation with him.The man buys her a drink.In a few minutes she says,"Do you want to have a party?" "What do you have in mind?" the man says."I can give you sex beyond your wildest dreams! Will only cost you $100," she replies."No thanks.I can't afford you," the man says."I can,however,arrest you,because I am a police officer," the man says as he displays his police badge.The appropriate charge to file against Tiffany would be:

A truck drives through a residential neighborhood at 10 pm.The truck has a loudspeaker and a recording is blaring a two-for-one special for a local pizza delivery service.Several residents call the police and complain about the noise.A police officer would correctly tell the residents that nothing can be done because the announcement is protected by the First Amendment.

Which of the following individuals is committing a violation of the unlawful carrying of weapons (UCW)statute?

A person who meets the definition of a "traveler" does NOT violate the unlawful carrying of weapons statute if in possession of a pistol.A "traveler" is defined as anyone who is currently moving from one location to another for a distance of at least 10 miles.

Don and Larry are having a beer in Vic's Bar and Grill.The two get into a disagreement and Don pushes Larry.Larry responds by punching Don in the nose.A full-blown fight erupts.In the course of the fight they break several tables and chairs valued at $600.The police arrive as the fight is ending.Neither Don nor Larry wishes to press charges against the other.However,the police officer would be correct in charging the two with:

Becky gives her friend Freda a ride to the mall.On the way,a state trooper stops Becky for speeding.The trooper checks for warrants on Becky and finds she has an outstanding arrest warrant for failing to appear on a previous traffic violation.Becky is placed under arrest.In the course of searching Becky,the trooper finds a baggie of marijuana in her coat pocket.Which of the following is an accurate statement about this situation?

George wears a pistol every day.He does not hold a state-issued handgun license.However,George is NOT violating the unlawful carrying of weapons statute if he only wears the pistol while ________.

Which of the following individuals is committing a violation of the unlawful carrying of weapons statute?

Jerome lives on a small residential street.He is angry because the garbage truck comes down the street at 6:00 am,awakening Jerome who works the night shift.One day he places saw horses across the street to prevent the truck from coming past his home.Jerome's actions constitute the crime of ________ a passageway.

Since he was 17 years old,Ralph has carried a .22 caliber pistol in his boot.Ten years later he still has the pistol in his boot.One night he is arrested for public intoxication.The arresting officer discovers the pistol.In addition to the public intoxication charge,the officer is likely to charge Ralph with unlawful ________ of a weapon.

Fred and Leroy,17-year-old seniors,set off a "stink bomb" in the high school cafeteria.Everyone exits the cafeteria due to the foul odor.Fred and Leroy have committed disorderly conduct.

Norma is breastfeeding her three-month-old baby while sitting in the waiting room of the bus station.Several people complain to the station agent.Norma is committing disorderly conduct.