NY Bill Could Make Annoying a Police Officer a Felony
The New York State Senate passed a bill June 6 that makes annoying a police officer a felony, punishable by up to four years in prison.
According to The Gothamist, the bill only applies to physical contact, but the proposed legislation states that one is guilty of “aggravated harassment” of an officer when “with the intent to harass, annoy, threaten, or alarm… he or she strikes, shoves, kicks or otherwise subjects such a person to physical contact.”
However, opponents say that the bill doesn’t explicitly define what law enforcement can consider annoying behavior, leaving lots of room for interpretation, and it could prove difficult to determine whether the annoying person had the intent to harass.
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
