By LawInspectsYes, egging a house is illegal in the United States. And at first, sure, it might appear to many of you like a harmless prank and just a joke, but when you really think about what you’re doing, you’ll understand how it can very well become an illegal thing. There are many scenarios where it can be illegal, and you can be fined or even face more severe legal consequences. So, if you’re not sure about this Egging thing, then just keep on reading. Here we go.
What Does Egging Really Mean?
Egging a house is, in the simplest terms, a deed of vandalism in which someone hurls eggs directly onto another person’s property. The most common targets are homes and cars, but there have also been reports of people egging porches. Generally, individuals engage in such activities to amuse themselves, like as a joke or gag during a school or Halloween vacation period. While some perpetrators utilize raw eggs, there are also people who employ rotten or hard-boiled ones with the intention of inflicting more harm.
At first, it might be a bit hilarious, but eggs are still the same destructive things that can break car paint, leave your walls stained, and cause dents as well.
Why Egging Isn’t Just a Harmless Prank
To get this straight, egging someone’s house is still a single major illegal act in the U.S., whereby you might find yourself not only arrested but also sued. Namely, the act of vandalism is legally defined as an offensive/intentional violent action against the victim and a felony, no matter the place where the act takes place.
How egging would be categorized in law depends on the exact nature of the act. The offender may be charged with trespass, vandalism, or criminal misconduct in connection with the egging incident. In addition, throwing or hitting someone with eggs, leading to the injury of the victim, may cause the situation to be upgraded to an assault case.
How Different States Handle Egging
The laws are different in each state, but the point that is being made is the same: if you break someone’s property, you have to pay for it. We can examine the statutes of a couple of states to understand their methods.
Colorado
If one illegally goes on the private land of someone else in Colorado, the act is considered trespassing, and this is true even in the absence of a “No Trespassing” sign. In case of the destruction of property in any minor way, for instance, by paint, siding, or a car, it is considered criminal mischief. In situations where the harm goes beyond $1,000, it may even escalate to a felony, thus resulting in severe legal consequences.
Florida
Florida considers egging as criminal mischief as well. The extent of the punishment will be determined by the amount of damage caused.
- If it costs less than $200 to repair, it’s a minor misdemeanor.
- Between $200 and $1,000, it’s a higher-level misdemeanor.
- Over $1,000, and you’re in felony territory.
It is a felony by default if you egg a public or religious building. The court may impose the following punishments on the parents of the kids who committed the offense: they can be held liable and have to pay for the damages, the kid can lose their driver’s license, or the court can mandate community service.
New Jersey
Egging or toilet-papering a house in New Jersey will be considered criminal mischief. The act of criminal mischief means damaging someone else’s property either intentionally or without caring about the result.
Maybe you will also have to pay for car or property repairs along with the fine if you are caught. And only in severe situations, it is possible to get a criminal history that can spoil your chances of getting a job or admission into schools later.