MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2026 Regular Session
To: Judiciary A; Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency
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) Except as
otherwise authorized by a municipality, county, political subdivision or state
agency in accordance with the Safe Solicitation Act, Sections 17-31-1 through
17-31-11, 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), * * * by imprisonment in the * * * custody
of the Department of Corrections for not less than one (1) year nor more than
two (2) years, or * * *
both * * *.
(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) Except as
otherwise authorized for solicitation permits in accordance with the Safe
Solicitation Act, Sections 17-31-1 through 17-31-11, 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 * * *, 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, 2026.