Section 2C:33-8.1 – Definitions Relative to Disruption of Funerals, Violations, Disorderly Persons Offense.
2. a. As used in this act:
“funeral” means the ceremonies, processions and memorial services held in connection with the burial or cremation of the dead; and
“demonstration” includes the following:
(1)any picketing or similar conduct,
(2)any oration, speech, use of sound amplification equipment or device, or similar conduct that is not part of a funeral,
(3)the display of any placard, banner, flag, or similar device, unless such a display is part of a funeral, or
(4)the distribution of any handbill, pamphlet, leaflet, or other written or printed matter other than a program distributed as part of a funeral.
b.A person is guilty of disrupting a funeral if, during the period beginning one hour prior to the scheduled commencement of a funeral, and until one hour following the actual completion of the funeral, with the purpose of causing inconvenience, annoyance or alarm to the funeral or its participants, or of recklessly creating the risk thereof, the person knowingly:
(1)obstructs, hinders, impedes or blocks another person’s entry to or exit from the funeral, the funeral procession, the funeral home, church, synagogue, temple or other place of public worship or other location at which a funeral takes place as part of demonstration activities, or
(2)engages in demonstration activities within 500 feet of the funeral, the funeral procession, the funeral home, church, synagogue, temple or other place of public worship or other location at which a funeral takes place and makes or assists in the making of noise, diversions, or threatening gestures, or engages in any other disruptive conduct, that disrupts or tends to disrupt the peace or good order of the funeral.
c.Disrupting a funeral is a disorderly persons offense.
L. 2006, c.93, s.2.
