Mercer County, NJ Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)

The Rules and Regulations Governing the Use of County Park and Recreation Areas, adopted by the Mercer County Park Commission on December 7, 2016, state upfront that all Commission parks are open sunrise to sunset, 365 days a year. Under the heading "Disorderly Persons," the rules then make it an offense for any person to loiter beyond the park posted times, tying the loitering ban directly to those sunrise-to-sunset hours and to whatever specific closing times are posted at a given park. The same section addresses conduct toward Park Commission staff: no person may resist any agent or officer of the Commission in discharging their duty, refuse to obey a lawful command, or interfere with, hinder or prevent an officer from doing their job; no one may help a person in custody escape or attempt a rescue; no one may falsely represent or impersonate a Commission agent or officer; and no one may resist, obstruct, or address a Commission agent or officer in a profane or obscene manner.

The rules further state that no person may remain in a county park who fails to abide by conditions the Commission has adopted and posted for park use, giving Park Rangers a basis to direct a loiterer or disorderly visitor to leave once posted hours or posted conditions are violated.