Trenton, NJ Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)

Section 154-2 prohibits any person, on foot or in a vehicle, from wandering, remaining or prowling in a public place with the purpose of committing a prostitution offense, and separately bars conduct that manifests a purpose to procure, solicit or patronize prostitution, including repeatedly beckoning to or stopping pedestrians or motorists, or repeatedly circling a public place by car in an area where prostitution offenses commonly occur. Article II's gang loitering provisions work differently: under § 154-4, once a police officer observes a member of a criminal street gang engaged in gang loitering within an area the Police Director has designated under § 154-5, the officer must inform the group they are loitering unlawfully, order them to disperse, and warn that failing to obey or continuing to loiter within the next three hours in that area subjects them to arrest.

The Police Director designates enforcement areas in writing based on where gangs have established control to intimidate others or conceal illegal activity, and must also issue written procedures protecting constitutionally protected collective advocacy from enforcement under § 154-5B. GANG LOITERING is defined at § 154-6 as remaining in a place under circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe the purpose is to enable gang control over an area, intimidate others, or conceal illegal activity.