Quote:
Originally Posted by stopdog
Simply driving past someone's house, even more than one time, is not of itself stalking under any state statute that I know of. In the jurisdictions I am aware of, there needs to be an element of ill intent.
For example Pennsylvania's statute defines stalking as:
A person commits the crime of stalking when the person either:
(1) engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly commits acts toward another person, including following the person without proper authority, under circumstances which demonstrate either an intent to place such other person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or to cause substantial emotional distress to such other person; or
(2) engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly communicates to another person under circumstances which demonstrate or communicate either an intent to place such other person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or to cause substantial emotional distress to such other person.
18 Pa.C.S.A. Crimes and Offenses § 2709.1. Stalking
I drive past the woman's home every time I go to the university where I teach, or if I go to visit friends, or to a major bookstore in our area or go to the restaurants in the neighborhood where she lives. I have walked past it with friends on my way to a major park in my area. I have friends and work in that same neighborhood.
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This is really helpful for the other post. Thank you.