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RSA 644:1 · Riot

Title
LXII: CRIMINAL CODE
Chapter
644 · BREACHES OF THE PEACE AND RELATED OFFENSES
Status
current
Official source linked
Yes
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644:1 Riot. –

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I.

A person is guilty of riot if:

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(a)

Simultaneously with 2 or more other persons, he engages in tumultuous or violent conduct and thereby purposely or recklessly creates a substantial risk of causing public alarm; or

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(b)

He assembles with 2 or more other persons with the purpose of engaging soon thereafter in tumultuous or violent conduct, believing that 2 or more other persons in the assembly have the same purpose; or

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(c)

He assembles with 2 or more other persons with the purpose of committing an offense against the person or property of another whom he supposes to be guilty of a violation of the law, believing that 2 or more other persons in the assembly have the same purpose.

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II.

Any person who refuses to comply with a lawful order to withdraw given to him immediately prior to, during, or immediately following a violation of paragraph I is guilty of riot. It is no defense to liability under this paragraph that withdrawal must take place over private property; provided, however, that no person so withdrawing shall incur criminal or civil liability by virtue of acts reasonably necessary to accomplish the withdrawal.

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III.

Upon the request of a police officer, any person present during a violation of paragraph I or II shall render assistance, other than the use of force, in the suppression of such violations. Any person refusing to render such assistance is guilty of a misdemeanor.

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IV.

Riot is a class B felony if, in the course of and as a result of the conduct, any person suffers physical injury, or substantial property damage or arson occurs, or the defendant was armed with a deadly weapon, or knowingly throws or causes to propel any object or substance of any kind at any uniformed law enforcement officer or uniformed emergency responder, regardless of whether such object actually strikes the uniformed law enforcement officer or uniformed emergency responder, except that if the deadly weapon was a firearm, he or she shall be sentenced in accordance with RSA 651:2, II-g. Otherwise, it is a misdemeanor.

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V.

(a) If the conduct comprising the offense of riot occurred within any municipality in which a student housing facility owned by a public institution of higher education is located, or in any adjacent municipality, the following penalties may be imposed, in addition to those set forth in RSA 651:

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(1)

The court may order the individual not to enter the campus of any public institution of higher education in this state as follows:

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(A)

If the offense is a felony, for a period of time not to exceed 2 years following the imposition of sentence or the completion of any term of imprisonment.

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(B)

If the offense is a misdemeanor, for a period of time not to exceed one year following the imposition of sentence or the completion of any term of imprisonment.

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(2)

The court may order the individual to pay restitution to the public institution of higher education and, if appropriate, any municipality for expenses incurred as a result of the riot. The amount shall be reasonable and shall not exceed the individual's fair and reasonable share of the costs.

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(b)

An order issued under this section shall not apply to any of the following:

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(1)

Entering onto the campus of a public institution of higher education to obtain medical treatment.

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(2)

Traveling on a public roadway situated on the campus of a public institution of higher education for the purpose of traveling to a location other than on such campus.

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(c)

For the purposes of this section, "public institution of higher education" shall include any public community college, public college, or public university. Source. 1971, 518:1. 1990, 95:8. 2004, 87:1, eff. May 7, 2004; 168:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005.

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Source note

Source. 1971, 518:1. 1990, 95:8. 2004, 87:1, eff. May 7, 2004; 168:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005.

Source history

  • 1971, 518:1
  • 1990, 95:8
  • 2004, 87:1, eff. May 7, 2004; 168:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005

Related materials

Bill relationships

  • 2026 HB1013 amend

    wherein the object is to capture a pig. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Contests Involving Pigs. Amend RSA 644 by inserting after section 8-g the following new section: 644:8-h Contests Involving Pigs. In order to promote an educational, humane, and safe event for contestants, livestock, and viewers, and in consultation with l

  • 2026 HB1013-FN amend

    wherein the object is to capture a pig. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Contests Involving Pigs. Amend RSA 644 by inserting after section 8-g the following new section: 644:8-h Contests Involving Pigs. In order to promote an educational, humane, and safe event for contestants, livestock, and viewers, and in consultation with l

  • 2026 HB293 amend · effective 2026-01-01

    son who disables a filter may be subject to criminal prosecution under RSA 644:9-b. 3 New Section; Disabling an Electronic Device Filter for the Purpose of Allowing Access to Obscene Material by a Minor. Amend RSA 644 by inserting after section 9-a the following new section: 644:9-b Disabling an Electronic Device Filter for the Purpose of Allowing Access to Obscene Material by a Minor. I. The terms "device", "filter", "manu

  • 2026 HB293-FN amend · effective 2026-01-01

    subject to criminal prosecution under RSA 644:9-b. 3 New Section; Disabling an Electronic Device Filter for the Purpose of Allowing Access to Obscene Material by a Minor. Amend RSA 644 by inserting after section 9-a the following new section: 644:9-b Disabling an Electronic Device Filter for the Purpose of Allowing Access to Obscene Material by a Minor. I. The terms "device", "filter", "manufactur

  • 2025 HB201 add

    Two Thousand Twenty Five AN ACT prohibiting the removal of claws from cats. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Removal of Claws from Cats. Amend RSA 644 by inserting after section 8-g the following new section: 644:8-h Removal of Claws from Cats Prohibited. I. No person shall remove the claws of a cat by performing an onychectomy, partial or complete phalangec

  • 2025 HB211 amend

    rgy at the muzzle. An air rifle shall be considered loaded when a projectile is inserted in the chamber. "Air rifle" also means air gun and pneumatic rifle. 21:4 Unauthorized Use of Firearms; Air Rifles. Amend RSA 644:13 to read as follows: 644:13 Unauthorized Use of Firearms. I. A person is guilty of a violation if, within the compact part of a town or city, such person fires or discharges any cannon, gun, pistol, air rifle o

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