§ 5-71-206 - Failure to disperse.

5-71-206. Failure to disperse.

(a) A person commits the offense of failure to disperse if, during a riot or an unlawful assembly, he or she refuses or knowingly fails to disperse when ordered to disperse by a law enforcement officer or other person engaged in enforcing or executing the law.

(b) It is a defense to a prosecution under this section that the actor was a news reporter or other person observing or recording the events on behalf of the news media not knowingly obstructing efforts by a law enforcement officer or other person engaged in enforcing or executing the law to control or abate the riot or unlawful assembly.

(c) Failure to disperse is a Class C misdemeanor.