Tennessee Harassment Laws: What You Need to Know
As any Manchester United fan will tell you, all of their actions and behaviors should project a positive image of the club. For the tens of thousands of fans who will attend a home match at Old Trafford or an away game, what they do before, during, and after the match can have lasting effects. Some fans may not even realize their actions can get them into trouble. This is why any individual – or group of people – attending a sports match needs to understand the legal boundaries that must never be crossed. In this regard, comprehensive Tennessee harassment laws can be used as a handy guide.
Although the name may indicate otherwise, Tennessee harassment laws are designed to help people live and work in safe environments where they are not physically or psychologically harmed. Harassment laws also prohibit individuals from upsetting or threatening people repeatedly, or from following them after being asked to stop. These laws apply to everyone equally and include punishments for offenders.
According to the Tennessee Anti-Harassment Act (T.C.A. § 39-17-308), harassment is defined as “a person commits an offense if, with intent to annoy, abuse, shame, insult or embarrass another person, the person causes the other person to reasonably fear: Following someone is a form of stalking, and this is illegal. It falls under the Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-17-315. Also, verbally assaulting someone can be considered harassment and public fighting or assault with a weapon can result in a variety of charges. If someone harasses or assaults anyone near Old Trafford or in other public places, they can face serious jail time and/or expensive fines. This includes whether people are outside the stadium, in a bar, restaurant, or even on public transport.
If someone makes a decision to yell or shout during the match, such conduct can be interpreted as annoying or repeating insults to the players, referees, Manchester United personnel, or even other fans. This may be considered harassment or disorderly conduct.
For those who are guilty, there can be serious consequences, namely: To prevent harassment and disorderly conduct, the members of the Club encourage peaceful and respectful behavior towards others at all times. Additionally, they have provided the following to promote lawful conduct: Examples of behaviors that could be considered harassment include: In order to avoid engaging in harassment or unlawfully stalking someone, fans should: In addition to the information above, this Club has shared the following: The Club members and fans should always take the time to discuss the importance of a positive fan experience and what is expected by others. Although someone may not consider themselves a bad person, it is always positive to be a responsible ambassador of the Manchester United supporters’ club or group. There is no reason to verbally assault, physically contact, or follow someone and cause fear when these unwanted actions can be considered harassment.