(a) A person may not refuse or fail to leave a public building or grounds, or a specific part of a public building or grounds, during the time when the public building or grounds, or specific part of the public building or grounds, is regularly closed to the public if:
- (1) the surrounding circumstances would indicate to a reasonable person that the person who refuses or fails to leave has no apparent lawful business to pursue at the public building or grounds; and
- (2) a regularly employed guard, watchman, or other authorized employee of the government unit that owns, operates, or maintains the public building or grounds asks the person to leave.
(b) A person may not refuse or fail to leave a public building or grounds, or a specific part of a public building or grounds, during regular business hours if:
(1) the surrounding circumstances would indicate to a reasonable person that the person who refuses or fails to leave:
- (i) has no apparent lawful business to pursue at the public building or grounds; or
- (ii) is acting in a manner disruptive of and disturbing to the conduct of normal business by the government unit that owns, operates, or maintains the public building or grounds; and
- (2) an authorized employee of the government unit asks the person to leave.
- (c) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.
Added by Acts 2002, c. 26, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2002.
Formerly Art. 27, § 578.