Man in US faces jailtime+fine for laughing too loud in his own home
A 42-year-old Long Island man is facing a $500 fine or 30 days in jail for laughing too loud in his own home, according to a published report.
Lawyer Andrew Campanelli calls the two summonses issued to his client Robert Schiavelli, who lives with his mother in Rockville Centre, "absurd," reports the New York Post.
Schiavelli received the tickets for "disturbing the peace" on consecutive days in February after police responded to a neighbor's complaints that his laughter could be heard across the street.
Each ticket carries a $250 fine or 15 days in jail.
"I didn't know it was a crime to laugh out a window," Schiavelli told the Post.
Schiavelli said loud laughter is his defense against the neighbor, who he claims regularly mocks his physical disabilities. The Post says he suffers from neurological problems and seizures.
"What else are you supposed to do?" he told the Post, when speaking of the disparaging names he alleged his neighbor calls him.
The neighbor did not respond to the Post's requests for comment, but his wife told the paper the fact police issued the summons indicates they found just cause.
Judge William Croutier said at Schiavelli's arraignment Wednesday that he was "not so inclined" to dismiss the charges, according to the Post.
But Campanelli said there was no chance he'd allow Schiavelli to plead out the tickets in court.
"It's absurd," he told the Post. "My client faces 30 days in jail for laughing."
Source: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Man-Fine-Laughing-Too-Loud-Long-Island-Summons-Ticket-195534091.html
A 42-year-old Long Island man is facing a $500 fine or 30 days in jail for laughing too loud in his own home, according to a published report.
Lawyer Andrew Campanelli calls the two summonses issued to his client Robert Schiavelli, who lives with his mother in Rockville Centre, "absurd," reports the New York Post.
Schiavelli received the tickets for "disturbing the peace" on consecutive days in February after police responded to a neighbor's complaints that his laughter could be heard across the street.
Each ticket carries a $250 fine or 15 days in jail.
"I didn't know it was a crime to laugh out a window," Schiavelli told the Post.
Schiavelli said loud laughter is his defense against the neighbor, who he claims regularly mocks his physical disabilities. The Post says he suffers from neurological problems and seizures.
"What else are you supposed to do?" he told the Post, when speaking of the disparaging names he alleged his neighbor calls him.
The neighbor did not respond to the Post's requests for comment, but his wife told the paper the fact police issued the summons indicates they found just cause.
Judge William Croutier said at Schiavelli's arraignment Wednesday that he was "not so inclined" to dismiss the charges, according to the Post.
But Campanelli said there was no chance he'd allow Schiavelli to plead out the tickets in court.
"It's absurd," he told the Post. "My client faces 30 days in jail for laughing."
Source: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Man-Fine-Laughing-Too-Loud-Long-Island-Summons-Ticket-195534091.html
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