Live Free or Die Legal
This website is not an official source of law. This website does not provide legal advice. For official legal materials, verify against the relevant court, legislature, agency, or other official source. Legal information may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed. Consult a qualified attorney for advice about a specific legal matter.

This RSA section is an unofficial mirror, is not legal advice, and may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed.

RSA 644:6 · Loitering or Prowling

Title
LXII: CRIMINAL CODE
Chapter
644 · BREACHES OF THE PEACE AND RELATED OFFENSES
Status
current
Official source linked
Yes
Official source Copy section link

644:6 Loitering or Prowling. –

Copy link
I.

A person commits a violation if he knowingly appears at a place, or at a time, under circumstances that warrant alarm for the safety of persons or property in the vicinity. Circumstances which may be considered in determining whether such alarm is warranted include, but are not limited to, when the actor:

Copy link
(a)

Takes flight upon appearance of a law enforcement official or upon questioning by such an official.

Copy link
(b)

Manifestly endeavors to conceal himself or any object.

Copy link
(c)

Has in his possession tools or other property which would lead a reasonable person to believe a crime was about to be perpetrated.

Copy link
(d)

Examines entrances to a structure which the actor has no authority or legitimate purpose to enter.

Copy link
II.

Prior to any arrest under this section, unless flight or other circumstances make it impossible, a law enforcement official shall afford the actor the opportunity to dispel any alarm which would otherwise be warranted, by requesting him to identify himself and give an account for his presence and conduct. Failure to identify or account for oneself, absent other circumstances, however, shall not be grounds for arrest.

Copy link
III.

No person shall be convicted under this section if the law enforcement official did not comply with paragraph II or if it appears at trial that the explanation he gave of his conduct and purposes was true and, if believed by the law enforcement official at the time, would have dispelled the alarm. In such cases, any record of the arrest made under authority of paragraph I shall be expunged.

Copy link
IV.

In this section, "entrances" means any part of a structure through which entry or egress could be made. Source. 1971, 518:1. 1985, 255:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.

Copy link

Source note

Source. 1971, 518:1. 1985, 255:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.

Source history

  • 1971, 518:1
  • 1985, 255:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986

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 HB1239 amend · effective 2027-01-01

    o the offense of loitering or prowling. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Paragraph; Loitering or Prowling. Amend RSA 644:6 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph: I-a. A person commits a violation if he or she, while being required to register as a tier II or tier III offender under RSA 651-B as a result of a sexual

  • 2026 HB1239-FN amend · effective 2027-01-01

    o the offense of loitering or prowling. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Paragraph; Loitering or Prowling. Amend RSA 644:6 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph: I-a. A person commits a violation if he or she, while being required to register as a tier II or tier III offender under RSA 651-B as a result of a sexual

  • 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

Opinions and discipline decisions mentioning this RSA