MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Judiciary B
By: Representative McLean
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 97-35-23 AND 97-35-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR OBSTRUCTING PUBLIC STREETS AND ROADWAYS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 97-35-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
97-35-23. (1) It shall be unlawful
for any person or persons to intentionally obstruct, or interfere with the normal
or ordinary free use and passage of vehicles of or on, any public street or highway
provided for use by vehicular traffic, or for any person or persons to intentionally
obstruct, or interfere with the normal or ordinary free use and passage of pedestrians
of or on any public sidewalk provided for foot travel by pedestrians, and any person
or persons who so do shall be guilty of a * * * felony and, upon conviction thereof,
shall be punished by a fine of not * * * less
than One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars (1,500.00), or by imprisonment in the * * * custody
of the Department of Corrections for not less than one (1) year nor more than two
(2) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(2) The provisions of this section are supplementary to the provisions of any other statute of this state.
SECTION 2. Section 97-35-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
97-35-25. (1) It shall be unlawful
for any person or persons to * * * willfully obstruct the free, convenient
and normal use of any public sidewalk, street, highway, alley, road * * * or other passageway by impeding, hindering, stifling,
retarding or restraining traffic or passage thereon, and any person or persons violating
the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a * * * felony, and upon conviction thereof,
shall be punished by a fine of not * * * less than * * * One Thousand Five
Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) or by confinement in the * * * custody
of the Department of Corrections for not less than one (1) year nor more than two
(2) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(2) The provisions of this section are supplementary to the provisions of any other statute of this state.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.