Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)

The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Code never uses the word loitering. The Township Council handles the subject in Chapter 134, Disorderly Conduct, and Chapter 271, Obstruction of Public Places.

Section 134-1 is a long list of prohibited conduct, and its last clause says no persons shall collect in groups or crowds in any of the streets, highways or public places within the Township limits for idle, unlawful or disorderly purposes. The same section bars improper noise, breach of the peace, open drunkenness, fighting, molesting or interfering with a person lawfully in a public place, and drinking intoxicating liquors in the streets or highways of the Township.

Section 134-2 supplies the enforcement tool. Where four or more persons are participating in generally prohibited conduct likely to cause substantial harm, a police officer may order the participants and others in the immediate vicinity to disperse, and a person who refuses to obey the order is guilty of a violation of the chapter. Section 134-3 assigns enforcement to the Police Department of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills.

Chapter 271 covers standing in the way. Section 271-1 defines obstruct as to render impassable without unreasonable inconvenience or hazard, and public place to include streets, sidewalks, schools, places of business or amusement, the front of any store or restaurant, and parking lots or other vacant private property not owned by or under the control of the person charged. Under § 271-2(A), a person with no legal privilege shall not purposely or recklessly obstruct the use of a public place, but nobody is guilty of recklessly obstructing solely because of a gathering to hear him speak. Section 271-2(B) lets a police officer, in the exercise of reasonable judgment, order a person or persons to leave, and § 271-2(C) says an order to move is not reasonable if the obstruction can be readily remedied by police control of the size or location of the gathering.