N.J. Stat. § 2C:18-3

Unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses

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2C:18-3. a. Unlicensed entry of structures. A person commits an offense if, knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, he enters or surreptitiously remains in any research facility, structure, or separately secured or occupied portion thereof, or in or upon utility company property, or in the sterile area or operational area of an airport. An offense under this subsection is a crime of the fourth degree if it is committed in a school or on school property. The offense is a crime of the fourth degree if it is committed in a dwelling. An offense under this section is a crime of the fourth degree if it is committed in a research facility, power generation facility, waste treatment facility, public sewage facility, water treatment facility, public water facility, nuclear electric generating plant or any facility which stores, generates or handles any hazardous chemical or chemical compounds. An offense under this subsection is a crime of the fourth degree if it is committed in or upon utility company property. An offense under this subsection is a crime of the fourth degree if it is committed in the sterile area or operational area of an airport. Otherwise it is a disorderly persons offense.

b. Defiant trespasser. A person commits a petty disorderly persons offense if, knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, he enters or remains in any place as to which notice against trespass is given by:

(1) Actual communication to the actor; or

(2) Posting in a manner prescribed by law or reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders; or

(3) Fencing or other enclosure manifestly designed to exclude intruders.

c. Peering into windows or other openings of dwelling places. A person commits a crime of the fourth degree if, knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, he peers into a window or other opening of a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation for the purpose of invading the privacy of another person and under circumstances in which a reasonable person in the dwelling or other structure would not expect to be observed.

d. Defenses. It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that:

(1) A structure involved in an offense under subsection a. was abandoned;

(2) The structure was at the time open to members of the public and the actor complied with all lawful conditions imposed on access to or remaining in the structure; or

(3) The actor reasonably believed that the owner of the structure, or other person empowered to license access thereto, would have licensed him to enter or remain, or, in the case of subsection c. of this section, to peer.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 79 cases (30 in the last 5 years), 1980–2026 · leading case: Don Karns v. Kathleen Shanahan
Don Karns v. Kathleen Shanahan (2018) ca3 · cites it 6× “Karns and Parker were also each charged with one count of defiant trespass in violation of N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:18-3(b) on the basis of the officers’ belief that engaging in non- commercial expression on NJ Transit property without a permit constitutes trespassing.”
Geissler v. City of Atlantic City (2016) njd · cites it 5× “N.J.S.A. § 2C:18-3(b)(1) makes it a crime for a person who, “knowing that [she] is not licensed or privileged to do so,” “enters or remains in any place as to which notice against trespass is given by .”
State v. Schmid (1980) nj · cites it 2× “95, § 2C:18-3, effective September 1, 1979). The correct statute to be applied here, of course, is N.”
Roth v. Golden Nugget Casino/Hotel, Inc. (1983) njd · cites it 7× “To this end, the defendants assert that, pursuant to NJ.S.A. § 2C:18-3 (West 1982) 1 Roth was guilty of criminal trespass when she entered the Golden Nugget on the date of her arrest.”
William Pittman v. Metuchen Police Department (2011) ca3 · cites it 3× “” N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:18-3(b). “A person commits a crime [of peering] if, knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, he peers into a window or other opening of a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation for the purpose of invading the privacy…”
State of New Jersey v. Brandon Kane (2017) njsuperctappdiv “2C:12-1(b)(1);2 and fourth- degree criminal trespass of Charlie's home, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3(a), as a lesser-included offense of second-degree burglary, N.”
State v. David M. Gibson (070910) (2014) nj “See II The New Jersey Penal Code, Final Report of the New Jersey Criminal Law Revision Commission § 2C:18-3 cmt. 2, at 212 (1971) (“The theory of this Section is that where a landowner wishes to assert his right to exclude from open land and to have the backing of the criminal…”
State v. Sencion (2018) njsuperctappdiv “] *35 N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3 states, "A person commits a petty disorderly persons offense if .”
In the Matter of the Estate of Michael D. Fisher, II (2015) njsuperctappdiv · cites it 2× “1 According to Nees's certification, the separation was prompted by Fisher's December 2000 arrest for peering into the window of a dwelling, which resulted in his indictment for fourth-degree criminal trespass, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3(c). Fisher had previously been arrested…”
State v. Slobin (1996) njsuperctappdiv · cites it 2× “THE DEFENDANTS WERE NEVER GIVEN ACTUAL COMMUNICATION AGAINST TRESPASS AS REQUIRED BY N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3(b)(1) [SIC]. II.”
Islam v. City of Bridgeton (2011) njd · cites it 2× “” N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:18-3. Whether Plaintiff refused to leave once asked to do so is in dispute.”
Kamen v. Egan (1999) njsuperctappdiv “2C:18-2 (12) Criminal trespass N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3 (13) Harassment N.”
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:18-3(a) — 36 cases
State of New Jersey v. Brandon Kane (2017) njsuperctappdiv “2C:12-1(b)(1);2 and fourth- degree criminal trespass of Charlie's home, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3(a), as a lesser-included offense of second-degree burglary, N.”
State v. Thomas (2019) njsuperctappdiv
In re State (2018) njsuperctappdiv
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:18-3(b) — 13 cases
Don Karns v. Kathleen Shanahan (2018) ca3 “Karns and Parker were also each charged with one count of defiant trespass in violation of N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:18-3(b) on the basis of the officers’ belief that engaging in non- commercial expression on NJ Transit property without a permit constitutes trespassing.”
William Pittman v. Metuchen Police Department (2011) ca3 “” N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:18-3(b). “A person commits a crime [of peering] if, knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, he peers into a window or other opening of a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation for the purpose of invading the privacy…”
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:18-3(b)(1) — 4 cases
Geissler v. City of Atlantic City (2016) njd “N.J.S.A. § 2C:18-3(b)(1) makes it a crime for a person who, “knowing that [she] is not licensed or privileged to do so,” “enters or remains in any place as to which notice against trespass is given by .”
State v. Slobin (1996) njsuperctappdiv “THE DEFENDANTS WERE NEVER GIVEN ACTUAL COMMUNICATION AGAINST TRESPASS AS REQUIRED BY N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3(b)(1) [SIC]. II.”
Paff v. Kaltenbach (2000) ca3
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:18-3(b)(l) — 1 case
Geissler v. City of Atlantic City (2016) njd “N.J.S.A. § 2C:18-3(b)(1) makes it a crime for a person who, “knowing that [she] is not licensed or privileged to do so,” “enters or remains in any place as to which notice against trespass is given by .”
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:18-3(c) — 6 cases
In the Matter of the Estate of Michael D. Fisher, II (2015) njsuperctappdiv “1 According to Nees's certification, the separation was prompted by Fisher's December 2000 arrest for peering into the window of a dwelling, which resulted in his indictment for fourth-degree criminal trespass, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3(c). Fisher had previously been arrested…”
William Pittman v. Metuchen Police Department (2011) ca3 “” N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:18-3(b). “A person commits a crime [of peering] if, knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, he peers into a window or other opening of a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation for the purpose of invading the privacy…”
Amaya v. New Jersey (2011) njd
Pittman v. McDuffy (2007) ca3
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