What is the "Riot Act" and where could I read it?

Answer 1

Don't listen to that guy. Just give me a call and I will read it to you.

Answer 2

Full text of the Riot Act of 1714

For the first time on the Internet, the complete text of the Riot Act is available. The Act was passed in 1714, but took effect August of 1715. This is the famous Riot Act that gives us the modern expression "Read them the Riot Act!". — Jonathan Walther, February 8, 2002.

THE
Statutes at Large
FROM THE
Twelfth Year of Queen ANNE,
TO THE
Fifth Year of King George I.
To which is prefixed,

A TABLE containing the TITLES of all the STATUTES during that Period.
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VOL. XIII.
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By DANBY PICKERING, of Gray's-Inn, Esq; Reader of the Law Lecture to that Honourable Society.

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CAMBRIDGE
Printed by JOSEPH BENTHAM, Printer to the UNIVERSITY; for CHARLES BATHURST, at the Cross-Keys, opposite St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet-Street, London. 1764.
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*** PRIVILEGIO

Anno primo GEORGE I, Statute 2, Caption 5.
PAGES 142-146
An act for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies, and for the more speedy and effectual punishing the rioters.

I. Whereas of late many rebellious riots and tumults have been in divers parts of this kingdom, to the disturbance of the publick peace, and the endangering of his Majesty's person and government, and the same are yet continued and fomented by persons disaffected to his Majesty, presuming so to do, for that the punishments provided by the laws now in being are not adequate to such heinous offences; and by such rioters his Majesty and his administration have been most maliciously and falsly traduced, with an intent to raise divisions, and to alienate the affections of the people from his Majesty therefore for the preventing and suppressing of such riots and tumults, and for the more speedy and effectual punishing the offenders therein; be it enacted by the King's most excellent majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal and of the commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That if any persons to the number of twelve or more, being unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously assembled together, to the disturbance of the publick peace, at any time after the last day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifteen, and being required or commanded by any one or more justice or justices of the peace, or by the sheriff of the county, or his under-sheriff, or by the mayor, bailiff or bailiffs, or other head-officer, or justice of the peace of any city or town corporate, where such assembly shall be, by proclamation to be made in the King's name, in the form herin after directed, to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations, or to their lawful business, shall, to the number of twelve or more (notwithstanding such proclamation made) unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously remain or continue together by the space of one hour after such command or request made by proclamation, that then such continuing together to the number of twelve or more, after such command or request made by proclamation, shall be adjudged felony without benefit of clergy, and the offenders therein shall be adjudged felons, and shall suffer death as in a case of felony without benefit of clergy.