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House debate over criminal penalties for blocking roadways leads to temporary passage motion
Summary
After extended floor debate over House Bill 4664, which would change penalties for locking roadways, the House moved to pass the bill temporarily; debate centered on First Amendment concerns and public-safety arguments including potential fines and jail time.
Lansing — Lawmakers engaged in an extended debate Sept. 10 over House Bill 4664, which would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to increase penalties for locking or blocking roadways; the House later moved to pass the bill temporarily.
Representative Hope, speaking in strong opposition, said the bill “takes what is now a civil infraction, locking a roadway, and raises it to the level of a criminal offense carrying jail time and fines up to $5,000.” Hope argued the change could chill constitutionally protected protest activity, saying the legislation “would have a chilling effect on…
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