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Panel weighs HB 4664 to criminalize roadway blockades; law‑enforcement backs bill, ACLU warns of chilling effect
Summary
House Bill 4664 would make blocking highways a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a $5,000 fine; prosecutors and sheriffs cited safety and EMS access concerns, while the ACLU argued criminal penalties would chill protected protest activity. The committee adopted an H‑1 substitute 7–4.
Representative Saint Germain presented House Bill 4664 and said the measure would make intentional blockage of highways a misdemeanor with penalties up to 93 days in jail and fines up to $5,000. The sponsor showed video examples and framed the bill as a public‑safety response to protests and coordinated disruptions that impede travel and emergency response.
Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido (appearing by video) and Oakland County Sheriff Mike…
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