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Panel weighs making highway blockades a misdemeanor after protesters occupied roadways
Summary
Republican sponsor and law enforcement urged criminal penalties for people who occupy public highways and block traffic; the ACLU warned the change would chill constitutionally protected protest. Committee adopted a substitute and exchanged questions but did not report final passage in the transcript segment.
The Michigan House Judiciary Committee heard spirited testimony on House Bill 4664, a proposal to make intentional, assembly-based obstruction of public highways a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Sponsor Rep. Saint Germain said the measure is narrow and focused on safety: "We have had protests ... blocking people from getting to work, coming home, getting to the airport, getting to a hospital," he told the committee, describing videos shown during the hearing and arguing that occupants in a vehicle can be held "hostage" when a crowd blocks traffic. Saint Germain said the bill is intended to protect emergency access and public safety.
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