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Senate bill would designate Mackinac Bridge a key facility; proponents cite prosecution gaps and copycat trespasses
Summary
Senate Bill 71 would add the Mackinac Bridge to the state's list of key facilities, increasing penalties for trespassing and enabling prosecutors to seek stiffer sanctions. Bridge officials and the senator argued the change is necessary after high‑profile trespass incidents and limits in current prosecution options.
Senator Curtus (Senator Demuse) and officials from the Mackinac Bridge Authority testified in support of Senate Bill 71, which would add the Mackinac Bridge to the state's statutory list of key (critical) facilities and raise penalties for unauthorized access.
"This is a bill to add our beloved Mackinac Bridge to our state's official list of critical infrastructure," the senator said, describing past incidents including a bridge closure for a bomb scare and an individual who climbed the bridge and posted photographs on social media. He said investigators found that because the bridge was not on the key facility list,…
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