# Criminality of Harmless Act **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 29, 2017, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124 "2017-10-29T07:17:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/1 "2017-10-29T07:17:19Z")
Would it be illegal, in a typical US jurisdiction, to, say, dump a quart of water on a stranger’s car which is parked on a public street? Assume the windows are up and there’s nothing weird about the car (like, it isn’t made out of sugar). Criminal mischief, maybe? If it were illegal, what if it was about to rain anyway? That is, you didn’t do anything to the car that wasn’t imminent anyway (that is, get it wet). What if it was about to rain and instead of dumping the quart of water on it all at once, you gently drenched it with a lawn sprinkler? (In this case, assume your specific intention was to get this stranger’s car wet for no particular reason, and not to water the lawn.) ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/2 "2017-10-29T07:32:41Z")
You might be charged with criminal meandering senseless acts of car wetting. You could probable cop a plea. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/3 "2017-10-29T09:27:10Z")
I am curious as to why anyone would want to know? ---
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/4 "2017-10-29T10:03:28Z")
My family and another were dining this evening at a restaurant with open garage doors. I was cleaning up the table, including a bunch of kid’s undrunk water glasses, and rather than find a place inside to dump all the water, I heaved it out across the sidewalk into the street. Some of the water splashed on a random truck parked in front of the restaurant. I thought to myself, “I wonder if the owner could have legal grounds for a case against that.” That’s all. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/5 "2017-10-29T10:35:30Z")
I believe you have answered the last unanswered Straight Dope question. “What is mopery?” Ok, we still have a few questions. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/6 "2017-10-29T10:37:22Z")
A barking dog can be a criminal act, where there is a noise ordinance. Clearly no property damaged nor cost incurred by citizens to repair the effects. Similarly, littering is a harmless act. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/7 "2017-10-29T10:43:59Z")
Enforcement of noise ordinances is not a criminal matter. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/8 "2017-10-29T11:41:50Z")
> [@whc.03grady](#): > > I thought to myself, “I wonder if the owner could have legal grounds for a case against that.” I’m trying to imagine the reaction of a police officer (in just about any jurisdiction in the world) or the likes of Judge Judy when confronted with a complaint from said owner, in the circumstances you outline. I don’t know about where you live, but in my country we have an offence called “wasting police time”. Of course, it’s not impossible that a cycle of reaction and counter-reaction could, if pushed far enough, win either or both of you a spot in a “Nightmare Neighbour From Hell” sort of TV documentary. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/9 "2017-10-29T12:19:52Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Enforcement of noise ordinances is not a criminal matter. It is in my city. (It’s a very low level of crime, the same as speeding, etc., but still a criminal rather than civil matter.) ---
**Author:** ![igor\_frankensteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/839c29/32.png) [@igor\_frankensteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/igor_frankensteen)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/10 "2017-10-29T14:09:42Z")
It isn’t the amount of harm done that matters. It is the obvious and clear intent of the act that does. In the case described, the author has openly admitted that the INTENT of the action was assault. That is illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/11 "2017-10-29T15:09:06Z")
> [@Dereknocue67](#): > > You might be charged with criminal meandering senseless acts of car wetting. You could probable cop a plea. **Moderator Note** **Dereknocue67** , in GQ hold the joke answers until factual answers have been given. No warning issued, but don’t do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/12 "2017-10-29T21:46:35Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > **Moderator Note** > > **Dereknocue67** , in GQ hold the joke answers until factual answers have been given. No warning issued, but don’t do this again. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator OR until there are 11 or more posts, isn’t that still also the rule? Just don’t you dare try patting your neighbor’s teenage daughter’s car on the butt. ---
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/13 "2017-10-29T22:08:28Z")
There’s a legal principle (can’t remember the phrase, it’s one of those latiny ones) that the law doesn’t bother itself with trivial matters. It’s why you won’t get arrested for bumping into somebody or even pushing them (you will get arrested when they rightfully try to beat the \*\*\*\* out of you in response). ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/14 "2017-10-29T22:10:34Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > It is in my city. (It’s a very low level of crime, the same as speeding, etc., but still a criminal rather than civil matter.) I doubt that. I’d love to see a link to your city’s code that makes noise violations a crime. And speeding is also not generally a criminal matter, unless you’re going criminally fast. ---
**Author:** ![zuer-coli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ba9def/32.png) [@zuer-coli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuer-coli)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/15 "2017-10-29T22:17:38Z")
Friedo, The City where I live has a noise ordinance, the local Police enforce it, the the citations can be written for pretty significant amounts. Warning, sarcasm: The ordinance came about on account of all the folks who thought that their music was worthy of being shared at a very high volume. These very considerate folks thought that being able to share their music when they were several blocks away would be well received. Sarcasm off. Zuer-coli ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/16 "2017-10-29T22:20:39Z")
With of course the usual disclaimer that laws differ from state to state. Since there was no damage or even a chance for damage it would not be criminal mischief. The harmless act of just pouring water on a car would not be a crime unless the intent of the act was to alarm or annoy. Then it could possibly be harassment. ---
**Author:** ![zuer-coli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ba9def/32.png) [@zuer-coli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuer-coli)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/17 "2017-10-29T22:39:21Z")
Fredo, Here is a link to the City of Elkhart, IN webpage: > **[City of Elkhart - City with a Heart](https://elkhartindiana.org/)** > > The city of Elkhart offers a vibrant, diverse, and unique community. In Elkhart, things are built, opportunity abounds, and our community offers great experiences in recreation Here is a link to the noise ordinance: > **[American Legal Publishing](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com?o=1)** > > Legal publisher offering ordinance codification services for local governments, specializing in providing codes of ordinances in print and on the Internet Snap, I don’t understand why the first link works but the second one does’t, please copy and paste into your browser. Zuer-coli ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/18 "2017-10-29T23:01:31Z")
> [@zuer-coli](#): > > Fredo, > > Here is a link to the City of Elkhart, IN webpage: > > [https://www.elkhartindiana.org/](https://www.elkhartindiana.org/) Thanks, I was able to find the relevant bit in § 95.999 of the City Code, which does in fact make violations a criminal matter: > [@](#): > > (A) Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of § 95.030 shall be deemed **guilty of a misdemeanor** and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $100. I am genuinely surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/19 "2017-10-29T23:07:07Z")
> [@dstarfire](#): > > There’s a legal principle (can’t remember the phrase, it’s one of those latiny ones) that the law doesn’t bother itself with trivial matters. de minimis ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124/20 "2017-10-29T23:33:03Z")
[This link should be clickable.](http://library.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Indiana/elkhart_in/titleixgeneralregulations/chapter95nuisancesnoisecontrol?f=templates%24fn=altmain-nf.htm%24q=%5Band%3AChapter%2095%5D%20%24x=server%243.0#LPHit1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminality-of-harmless-act/800124.md?page=2)