Imagine being in a situation where every moment counts, such as rushing to the airport to board the first plane out of town in order to say goodbye to a dying family member. Or even more urgently, envision a person who has had a massive heart attack and needs to get to the hospital in order to live.
Now imagine a hundred people standing on a freeway, blocking the road and refusing to let you get through because they’re upset about the results of a court case or the decisions made by voters during an election.
We’ve already seen Interstate 94 shut down twice over the past year or so due to protesters looking to be seen and heard, but the current penalty is not deterring this dangerous conduct.
In response, I am sponsoring legislation that would strengthen the penalty for intentional public highway obstruction from a misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor, increasing the probability for a stay in jail, higher fine and longer probation.
This bill is about a concern for public safety. If you choose to walk onto an interstate where people are driving 65 miles per hour, you have not only put yourself in harm’s way but have endangered the life of the driver who may ultimately crash into you and the law enforcement officer who will ultimately remove you.
And while it is illegal to obstruct a highway, the current law clearly has done nothing to deter this behavior.
To be clear, I am not offering this bill as a response to protests. It is your right to peacefully protest on any topic you wish. It is not your right to intentionally block an interstate and endanger the lives of others because you are upset about something.
As always, I am interested in your feedback. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail at Rep.Kathy.Lohmer@House.MN or contact my office at 651-296-4244. You can also send mail to my office address: 501 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.