With the World Cup games coming to Chiefs stadium and fans constantly celebrating Royals games in the Power and Light District, Westport, the Crossroads, and the Country Club Plaza, it is easy for high spirits to get out of hand. If you or your teenager let the party go too far, you could end up facing a disorderly conduct charge. While many people think this is just a minor nuisance or a simple city ticket, Missouri treats these municipal ordinance violations seriously. If you do not handle them correctly, they can leave a permanent mark on your criminal record.
Essentially, anything that causes a disturbance of the peace in a public area or disrupts a business can lead to an arrest in Kansas City. In my forty-eight years of practice, I see the same actions lead to tickets every single weekend:
-
Public Intoxication: Including drinking in prohibited places or carrying open containers in entertainment districts.
-
Fake IDs: Getting caught using false identification to enter a bar or purchase alcohol.
-
Fighting and Threats: Threatening to fight someone, or using unreasonably loud, offensive language that alarms the people around you.
-
Obstructing Traffic: Purposefully blocking a street or sidewalk during a massive street party.
During big events, law enforcement will sweep these entertainment districts and hand out city tickets or state-level misdemeanors by the dozen. The biggest mistake you can make is assuming that a municipal ordinance violation is no big deal and just paying the fine online. Paying that ticket is the exact same thing as pleading guilty in court. It means a criminal conviction will show up whenever a future employer or a college runs a background check on you.
The exact punishment you face depends on whether you are charged in municipal court or state court. You could be looking at heavy fines, a lengthy probation period, or even up to a year in a city or county jail for a severe misdemeanor peace disturbance. If you or your teenager woke up with a city ticket in your pocket after a night out, you need to take it seriously. My job is to step in, negotiate with the local prosecutors, and fight to keep this mistake off your permanent record.