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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5502 (2026)

 Failure of disorderly persons to disperse upon official order.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 5502.  Failure of disorderly persons to disperse upon official order.

Where three or more persons are participating in a course of disorderly conduct which causes or may reasonably be expected to cause substantial harm or serious inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, a peace officer or other public servant engaged in executing or enforcing the law may order the participants and others in the immediate vicinity to disperse. A person who refuses or knowingly fails to obey such an order commits a misdemeanor of the second degree.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1975–2023 · leading case: City of Chicago v. Morales, 527 U.S. 41 (1999).
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City of Chicago v. Morales, 527 U.S. 41 (1999). · cites it 2× “025(1)(e) (1997); 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5502 (1983); R. I. Gen.”
Geist v. Ammary, 40 F. Supp. 3d 467 (E.D. Pa. 2014). “18 Pa.C.S. § 5502. *477 Pennsylvania’s resisting arrest statutes states: A person commits a misdemeanor of the second degree if, with the intent of preventing a public servant from effecting a lawful arrest or discharging any other duly, the person creates a substantial risk of…”
Commonwealth v. Leonhard, 369 A.2d 320 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1976). · cites it 2× “[2] The Crimes Code, supra; 18 Pa.C.S. § 5502. [1] The Crimes Code, Act of December 6, 1972, P.”
Commonwealth v. Africa, 422 A.2d 539 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1980). · cites it 2× “The appeal of defendant Consuella Dotson was docketed at number 1506 October Term, 1979, but has been non prossed, and the final defendant, Sharon Penn, has not taken an appeal from the order of the trial court.”
Commonwealth v. Cook, 361 A.2d 274 (Pa. 1976). · cites it 2× “Appellees were indicted, inter alia, for failing to disperse upon official order in violation of Section 5502 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5502. That statute authorizes the police to issue a dispersal order "[w]here three or more persons are participating in a…”
In the Interest of K.B., 639 A.2d 798 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1994). “18 Pa.C.S. § 5502 states: “Where three or more persons are participating in a course of disorderly conduct which causes or may reasonably be expected to cause substantial harm or serious inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, a peace officer or other public servant .”
Pulice v. Enciso, 39 F. App'x 692 (3rd Cir. 2002). “Puliee was charged with disorderly conduct under 18 Pa.C.S. § 5502(a)(1), resisting arrest under 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Lewis, 576 A.2d 63 (Pa. 1990). “18 Pa.C.S. § 5502. To violate this section, it is necessary that a person be part of a group of three or more persons.”
Zolinda Kiriakidis v. Borough of Vintondale, 609 F. App'x 713 (3rd Cir. 2015). “Babitz was charged with seven counts, including one count of failing to disperse, 18 Pa. Cons.Stat. Ann. § 5502, and six counts of disorderly conduct.”
Commonwealth v. Williams, 729 A.2d 603 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1999). “§ 5104, Failure to Disperse, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5502 and Disorderly Conduct, 18 Pa.”
Com. v. Deavers, K. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). · cites it 4× “Next, Appellant avers that the evidence was insufficient to establish the crime of failure of disorderly persons to disperse upon official order pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 5502. Appellant’s Brief at 14.”
Commonwealth v. DeFrancesco, 75 Pa. D. & C.2d 502 (1975). “1, effective June 6, 1973, 18 Pa.C.S. §5502. . See footnote 1.”
Show all 15 citing cases →
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5502(a)(1) — 1 case
Pulice v. Enciso, 39 F. App'x 692 (3rd Cir. 2002). “Puliee was charged with disorderly conduct under 18 Pa.C.S. § 5502(a)(1), resisting arrest under 18 Pa.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5502(a)(l) — 1 case
Com. v. Paleti, B. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).
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