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Question:

Is Doorbell ditching (ringing a doorbell and running) breaking the law?



Answer:

While there is no specific Arizona law the makes it a crime to 'doorbell ditch', this type of behavior could still get you in trouble. There are two ways in which a home-owner might take action against a 'doorbell ditcher'.

First, Arizona law (A.R.S. § 13-1502) makes it illegal for you to '. . .knowingly enter or remain unlawfully on any real property after a reasonable request to leave by the owner.' That means that a home owner could tell you not to come back on his property, and if you did it again, you could be committing the crime of Trespass.

Second, Arizona law (A.R.S. § 13-2917) prohibits 'harassment' of another, which includes 'repeatedly committing an act or acts that harass another person.' So if you were ringing someone's doorbell over and over, maybe keeping them from sleeping for instance, that might constitute harassment.

Both of these crimes are misdemeanors. In either case, you would likely have to be doing a lot of 'doorbell ditching' to a home owner to make it a crime, but we wouldn't suggest doing it anyway. It just isn't nice.
Comments
16 thru 20 of 21 comments
On 10/08/03
Matt from CO said:
Doorbell ditching is primarly just pissing someone off, not breaking the law (simplified explination).
On 09/07/03
Tom from AZ said:
Brittney... First, it looks as though you should spend more time studying and less time harassing innocent homeowners. The correct spelling is "waste", not "waist". It's absolutely absurd that you suggest that I should provide you better entertainment if I don't want to be harassed by you! That's blackmail at the very least. Someone is doing this to me right now and if I catch them, I will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. Since it's probably a minor, the parents will pay the biggest price. Do you have parents? Will they get mad at you if you get them in trouble with the law? Someth
On 08/23/03
Bob from MI said:
The problem with this act is that it invades another's personal space. Your entertainment at someone else's cost is disrespectful and downright mean. Further, you could be waking or disturbing an infant or elder or sick person's needed rest. You could scare someone who is alone or you can anger the wrong person and end up hurt. All for the sake of a laugh. That's pretty sad...
On 08/21/03
Bryce from AZ said:
I went Doorbell ditching once we didn't get caught but some people were mighty mad when they found out that nobody was there. I heard one of them called the cops for us but they couldn't find us. Oh well.
On 08/21/03
brittney from AZ said:
well in a small town that i live in there isn't much to do so if the people that we doorbell ditching dont like it they should have other things for us to do. you are only young once in your life so u might as well have fun and not waist it doing nothing.
16 thru 20 of 21 comments


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