MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Judiciary, Division B
By: Senator(s) McMahan, Hill, Caughman, Tate, Suber
AN ACT TO CRIMINALIZE THE MALICIOUS OBSTRUCTION OF A PUBLIC STREET HIGHWAY OR ROAD DURING AN UNPERMITTED PROTEST; TO STATE LEGISLATIVE INTENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Freedom of Roadway Act."
SECTION 2. A person who maliciously obstructs the free, convenient and normal use of any public street, highway, or road during an unpermitted protest shall be fined up to One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) or imprisoned for a term not exceeding one (1) year in the county jail or both. A person convicted under this subsection shall, at a minimum, be fined Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) and be imprisoned in the county jail for a term of twenty-five (25) days.
SECTION 3. It is the intent of the Legislature that:
(a) Nothing in the provisions of this act shall be construed to infringe and impede upon any individual's First Amendment rights.
(b) Every provision of this act shall operate with equal force and shall be severable one from the other and that, in the event that any provision of this act shall be held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision shall be severable and the remaining provisions of this act shall be fully enforceable.
(c) The provisions of this act are supplementary to the provisions of any other statute of this state.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.