World

A Long Island man says he didn't know it was a crime to laugh.

Robert Schiavelli of Rockville Centre N.Y. was slapped with two summonses for "disturbing the peace."

Police responded to his home on Feb. 12 and Feb. 13 after receiving complaints from his next-door-neighbour that his loud laughs could be heard across the driveway.

The 42-year-old was charged with acting "in such a manner as to annoy, disturb, interfere with, obstruct, or be offensive to others."

At his arraignment Tuesday, a judge declined to dismiss the charges.

Schiavelli told the New York Post his neighbour often taunts him due to his disability. He learned to deal with it by laughing him off.

Schiavelli suffers from seizures and neurological impairments.

The neighbour didn't respond to requests for comment.