Elizabeth, NJ Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)

010 as "remaining idle in essentially one location," including spending time idly, loafing, walking about aimlessly, or "hanging around," in any public place, defined to include streets, sidewalks, the fronts of stores, shops, restaurants, taverns, public and private school grounds, parks, and even private parking lots not controlled by the person charged. 020 then narrows the prohibition to loitering that creates a danger of a breach of the peace, causes disturbance or annoyance to another's comfort and repose, obstructs free passage of pedestrians or vehicles, or obstructs, molests or interferes with a person lawfully present, including unsolicited offensive, disgusting or insulting remarks meant to annoy or disturb the listener.

030, a police officer who reasonably judges that a person's presence is causing or is likely to cause any of those conditions may order the person to leave, and refusing that order is itself a chargeable violation of the chapter. 060 add a distinct track for minors: a parent or guardian may not knowingly permit a child under 18 to loiter in violation of the chapter, the police chief must notify the parent or guardian after a minor's first violation, and a second violation within 30 days is presumed to have occurred with the parent's knowledge and permission absent contrary evidence.