In New Hampshire, ding dong ditching could potentially be considered illegal under certain circumstances, though it is not explicitly named in state law. Here’s what the relevant statutes say:
Potential Criminal Charges
Under New Hampshire’s criminal code, ding dong ditching could potentially fall under the following offenses:
Harassment (RSA 644:4): This statute defines harassment as including:
- Making a telephone call with no legitimate purpose and with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or alarm another person
- Making repeated communications at inconvenient hours or in offensive language to annoy or alarm someone
- Communicating with someone after being notified they don’t want further contact, if done to annoy or alarm them
While ding dong ditching doesn’t involve phone calls, repeatedly ringing doorbells late at night could potentially be considered a form of harassment under this law.
Criminal Trespass: Entering someone’s property without permission to ring their doorbell and run away could potentially be considered criminal trespass, especially if done repeatedly after being warned to stop.
Potential Consequences
If charged under these statutes, ding dong ditching could be treated as a misdemeanor offense. Penalties for misdemeanors in New Hampshire can include:
- Up to 1 year in jail
- Fines up to $2,000
- Probation
Factors Affecting Charges
Whether ding dong ditching results in criminal charges likely depends on factors such as:
- Frequency and persistence of the behavior
- Time of day/night it occurs
- Whether property owners have previously complained or warned the perpetrators
- Age of those involved (juveniles may be treated differently than adults)
- Any property damage or other consequences resulting from the prank
Advice for Those Involved
While ding dong ditching may seem like harmless fun, it carries legal risks and can cause genuine distress to residents, especially elderly or vulnerable people. The safest approach is to avoid engaging in this prank altogether. If you’re a parent, talk to your children about the potential consequences of this behavior.
For homeowners dealing with persistent ding dong ditching, the recommended course of action is to:
- Document incidents with dates and times
- Consider installing security cameras
- Notify local law enforcement if the behavior continues
- Avoid confronting or chasing pranksters, as this could lead to dangerous situations
While a single instance of ding dong ditching is unlikely to result in serious legal consequences in most cases, repeated offenses or those causing harm or property damage could lead to criminal charges. It’s always best to respect others’ property and peace of mind by refraining from such pranks.
Source
- https://www.pumphreylawfirm.com/blog/is-ding-dong-ditching-as-harmless-as-pranksters-think/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knock,_Knock,_Ginger
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZsvcI77Avc
- https://bownh.gov/252/FAQ—Handling-Annoying-Calls
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4ksT6lvfGc
- https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/ding-dong-ditch-prank-east-boston-woman-hurt-massachusetts-ann-myers/