Street Fights Caught On Tape

Street fighting is the term used to indicate unsanctioned, and most often illegal, bare knuckle fighting in public places. The term can also have the meaning that the people fighting aren’t pro fighters or they significally lack skill. The combatants might use basic punches, kicks, wrestling moves, or improvised techniques, that may include gouging of the eyes, biting, striking opponents with objects or to throw objects at them. The rules of the fights are usually dictated by code of honor or personal choice. Often street fighting turns into riots that lead to vandalism of property by gangs of participants and many of these riots have been caught on tape.

In extreme cases street violence can involve firearms or bombs. Street fights might not happen that often but in movies and video games they are very common. All street fights caught on tape, no matter if they happen in a workplace, a store, or the street, are a violation of the criminal laws which make it illegal to indulge in different forms of aggressive public disturbance, including but not limited to battery, trespassing, vandalism and assault. Organized hooliganism or street fighting that is planned in advance and have the purpose of causing riots and civil disorder can be prosecuted under many of the USA’s conspiracy laws, including but not limited to the anti-terrorism laws. In many countries, people involved in a street fight might also be able to sue their antagonists in a civil court to get compensation for their physical injuries.

In some states, and through history, the theory of mutual combat was commonly accepted, that made street fights and catching them on tape, legal if it was agreed upon by all the people involved. These laws have been abandoned in most countries including the USA, where might even be charged as a serious crime in some states. Nowadays street fights being caught on tape usually lead to being convicted of assault, battery, attempted murder, disturbing the peace or one of the many other crimes covered by the law. No matter if a participant in a street fight claims self-defense or not his outlook in court entirely depend on the laws of the state. However, a mutual combat street fight usually precludes any of the participants from claiming self-defense, especially if there is evidence on tape. Self-defense would usually onlyapply if the fight was instigated by only one of the combatants, and only then if the many other requirements are met, and of course depending upon the state in wich they took place.