Things I Didn't Know

For many of you, this is your first time living away from home. You are now responsible for knowing all the things about being an adult member of the community. Here are just some of the most common laws and ordinances that every student should know. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations.

Some common things that you can be arrested for or issued a citation for in Baltimore:

• Possessing or consuming alcohol and/or marijuana if you are under the age of 21.
• Using or possessing a “fake” ID. A false representation of your age is illegal.
• Providing alcohol and/or marijuana to persons under the age of 21.
• Possessing an unregistered keg of beer.
• Possessing or drinking from an open container of alcohol in public. Do not leave a party with a cup, bottle, or can. This is true for people of any age, not just under 21.
• Smoking marijuana in public.
• Failing to obey the lawful order of a police officer. This is a very common charge that students often find themselves facing. If a police officer tells you to do something, do it immediately. This is not the time you should pick to debate your “constitutional rights” with a police officer, especially if you have been drinking. “Failure to obey” often leads to more serious offenses, such as resisting arrest or assaulting a police officer.
• Urinating in public. It’s easy to think that you’re just one person and it is an emergency, so how bad could this be? Multiply that idea by the number of similarly-minded people walking around on a given night, and you can imagine what a bad situation that would be. This is your community, too. You don’t want to live in a bathroom. Depending on the incident, you could face other charges, including indecent exposure.
• Disturbing the peace and/or disorderly conduct. There is a wide range of charges that can result from loud parties, yelling, screaming, playing loud music, fighting, and other disruptive behavior

Why did I just get a big fine from the city?

We would all like to live in a safe, clean neighborhood, and like most cities, Baltimore has laws and codes that are designed to uphold standards of sanitation. If a violation of these laws and codes is suspected, inspectors are sent out to investigate. A citation or fine is issued if the inspector finds a violation. Students are affected by this if the violation occurs on the property they rent. In most cases, the landlord can legally pass on the amount of the fine to the lessees.

Students are often fined for failing to maintain their property. Unless your landlord specifically agrees to take care of any of the following, you are required to:

• Keep the grass from growing higher than 8 inches because this helps to control rat harborage.
• Keep the grounds clear of litter and debris. This includes not only the lawn but also any adjoining sidewalks or alleyways.
• Remove snow and ice from adjoining sidewalks, steps, and alleys.
• Place household garbage in garbage cans with tightly fitting lids.
• Remove illegal furniture from the porch. It is illegal to have upholstered furniture (sofas, stuffed chairs, recliners, and loveseats) on your porch. Rats, mice, and other animals will use these areas to nest. Only metal, wood, or plastic “patio” type furniture is allowed on your front or rear porches and yards.