PA Law on Obstructing Highways

[EWTHeckman]

Just because it has become an issue around the country, I decided to look up PA's law on "protestors" blocking roads. Here it is:

§ 5507. Obstructing highways and other public passages.
(a) Obstructing.--A person, who, having no legal privilege
to do so, intentionally or recklessly obstructs any highway,
railroad track or public utility right-of-way, sidewalk,
navigable waters, other public passage, whether alone or with
others, commits a summary offense, or, in case he persists after
warning by a law officer, a misdemeanor of the third degree. No
person shall be deemed guilty of an offense under this
subsection solely because of a gathering of persons to hear him
speak or otherwise communicate, or solely because of being a
member of such a gathering.
(b) Refusal to move on.--
(1) A person in a gathering commits a summary offense if
he refuses to obey a reasonable official request or order to
move:
(i) to prevent obstruction of a highway or other
public passage; or
(ii) to maintain public safety by dispersing those
gathered in dangerous proximity to a fire or other
hazard.
(2) An order to move, addressed to a person whose speech
or other lawful behavior attracts an obstructing audience,
shall not be deemed reasonable if the obstruction can be
readily remedied by police control of the size or location of
the gathering.
(c) Definition.--As used in this section the word
"obstructs" means renders impassable without unreasonable
inconvenience or hazard.

https://law.justia.com/codes/pennsyl...apter-55/5507/

[streaker69]

Now find the law that punishes dereliction of duty.

[Noah_Zark]

Just because it has become an issue around the country, I decided to look up PA's law on "protestors" blocking roads. Here it is:

§ 5507. Obstructing highways and other public passages.
(a) Obstructing.--A person, who, having no legal privilege
to do so, intentionally or recklessly obstructs any highway,
railroad track or public utility right-of-way, sidewalk,
navigable waters, other public passage, whether alone or with
others, commits a summary offense, or, in case he persists after
warning by a law officer, a misdemeanor of the third degree. No
person shall be deemed guilty of an offense under this
subsection solely because of a gathering of persons to hear him
speak or otherwise communicate, or solely because of being a
member of such a gathering.
(b) Refusal to move on.--
(1) A person in a gathering commits a summary offense if
he refuses to obey a reasonable official request or order to
move:
(i) to prevent obstruction of a highway or other
public passage; or
(ii) to maintain public safety by dispersing those
gathered in dangerous proximity to a fire or other
hazard.
(2) An order to move, addressed to a person whose speech
or other lawful behavior attracts an obstructing audience,
shall not be deemed reasonable if the obstruction can be
readily remedied by police control of the size or location of
the gathering.
(c) Definition.--As used in this section the word
"obstructs" means renders impassable without unreasonable
inconvenience or hazard.

https://law.justia.com/codes/pennsyl...apter-55/5507/

Bold red text mine. That's how they get away with it.

Noah

[Carson]

Now find the law that punishes dereliction of duty.

Show me the law that says an officer can not use discretion.

[GunLawyer001]

That's not the right law. THIS is the right law in PA:

Title 18 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES
Chapter 29 - Kidnapping
2903 - False imprisonment.

§ 2903. False imprisonment.
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits an offense if he
knowingly restrains another unlawfully so as to interfere
substantially with his liberty.
(b) Grading.--
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), an offense
under subsection (a) is a misdemeanor of the second degree.
(2) If the victim of the offense is an individual under
18 years of age, an offense under subsection (a) is a felony
of the second degree.

[GunLawyer001]

Or this:

2902 - Unlawful restraint.

§ 2902. Unlawful restraint.
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits an offense if he
knowingly:
(1) restrains another unlawfully in circumstances
exposing him to risk of serious bodily injury; or
(2) holds another in a condition of involuntary
servitude.
(b) Grading.--
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), an offense
under subsection (a) is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(2) If the victim of the offense is an individual under
18 years of age, an offense under subsection (a) is a felony
of the second degree.

[GunLawyer001]

Or this:

§ 2906. Criminal coercion.
(a) Offense defined.--A person is guilty of criminal
coercion, if, with intent unlawfully to restrict freedom of
action of another to the detriment of the other, he threatens
to:
(1) commit any criminal offense;
(2) accuse anyone of a criminal offense;
(3) expose any secret tending to subject any person to
hatred, contempt or ridicule; or
(4) take or withhold action as an official, or cause an
official to take or withhold action.
(b) Defense.--It is a defense to prosecution based on
paragraphs (a)(2), (a)(3) or (a)(4) of this section that the
actor believed the accusation or secret to be true or the
proposed official action justified and that his intent was
limited to compelling the other to behave in a way reasonably
related to the circumstances which were the subject of the
accusation, exposure or proposed official action, as by
desisting from further misbehavior, making good a wrong done,
refraining from taking any action or responsibility for which
the actor believes the other disqualified.
(c) Grading.--Criminal coercion is a misdemeanor of the
second degree unless the threat is to commit a felony or the
intent of the actor is felonious, in which cases the offense is
a misdemeanor of the first degree.

[Walleye Hunter]

Now that's more like it.

[85MikeTPI]

lives_splatter.jpg

[Yoder]

They are persons with legal black privilege to do so. Mayor said it's ok.