Interesting, I did note this is the ruling
"Prosecuting and convicting Jones for being intoxicated in a vehicle parked in a private driveway, not disturbing or offending anyone, does nothing to serve this purpose."
I am curious if he was disturbing/offending someone, then would the requirement be met. Example. Female was falling down drunk. Manages to walk to a house that she believes is hers. She knocks on the doors/windows trying to get her husband (who's not inside obviously) to open the door. Officers are called by neighbors but not the homeowner since they are not home at the time. She is clearly intoxicated and has no business at this property, she is too drunk to realize it. She is arrested for PI. This is my scenerio, I made this exact arrest some years ago. My opinion is a good arrest, even now.
While that analysis makes complete sense from a rational perspective, from a legal perspective you are going to run into problems. The court found Jones innocent because he wasn't in "public," not because he wasn't causing a problem. They used the dicta you quote above to buttress that position, not as the basis for the ruling itself itself.
Remember, the text of the statute makes no reference to "drunk and disorderly," but rather to "public and intoxicated". If he ain't in public, there is no way the statute applies regardless of how disturbing or offensive the behavior is. If there are others around, I think you might make a disorderly conduct on it: or even if she is alone I think if she is likely to damage the house you could make a disorderly conduct on it based upon tumultuous conduct:
IC 35-45-1-1
Definitions
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter:
"Tumultuous conduct" means conduct that results in, or is likely to result in, serious bodily injury to a person or substantial damage to property.
"Unlawful assembly" means an assembly of five (5) or more persons whose common object is to commit an unlawful act, or a lawful act by unlawful means. Prior concert is not necessary to form an unlawful assembly.
As added by Acts 1976, P.L.148, SEC.5. Amended by Acts 1977, P.L.340, SEC.68.
IMO, the PI statute is in need of serious revision. It should include a "disorderly" element, and should apply to both public areas and places you have no right to be, like other peoples yards.
Best
Joe