Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Obstructing Public Passages

 I'm sure that you all have seen the video from Plano, TX, last week, where BLM /Antifa assholes blocked a public street.  The video went viral.

That one poor cop on the scene, I'm not going to judge him because the video doesn't provide good context.  He was there by himself, and we can hear sirens in the background.  He was probably waiting for backup and trying to keep the protesters criminals separate from the citizens.  I've been there, and sometimes you just try to keep everyone safe until you get some help.

That cop aside, we've seen a great deal of blocking traffic by protesters criminals over the past year.  Most states have laws against obstructing a public passage.  While people have the constitutional right to protest, other people have the constitutional right to go about their daily business.

Louisiana law makes such activity a crime.

§100.1.  Obstructing public passages

A.  No person shall wilfully obstruct the free, convenient, and normal use of any public sidewalk, street, highway, bridge, alley, road, or other passageway, or the entrance, corridor, or passage of any public building, structure, water craft, or ferry, by impeding, hindering, stifling, retarding, or restraining traffic or passage thereon or therein.

This law was used to great effect several years ago during civil unrest in Baton Rouge.  THe police let everyone know that protesting was one thing, but obstructing public passage as a crime, and if they violated the law, they went to jail.  Baton Rouge PD arrested a few that got in the street, and the rest of them decided to stay on the grass.

I see that the Texas Attorney General has come forward, letting people know that such activity is a crime, and he intends to crack down on lawlessness.

These laws are on the books for a reason.  Enforce them.

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