HB2658

THE CONTEXT: A person commits obstructing a highway or other public thoroughfare if the person, alone or with others: 1) having no legal privilege to do so, recklessly interferes with the passage of any highway or public thoroughfare by creating an unreasonable inconvenience or hazard. A person guilty of this is responsible for a class 2 misdemeanor and for a second or subsequent violation within 24 months a class 1 misdemeanor; 2) intentionally activates a pedestrian signal on a highway or public thoroughfare if their reason for activating the signal is not the cross the highway or thoroughfare but to stop the passage of...

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would prohibit a pedestrian from congregating or engaging in solicitation if the pedestrian is: a) on a painted or raised traffic island or median; b) on an exit or entrance ramp or roadway of a controlled access highway; or c) in an intersection where there is not a sidewalk or a safe corridor for pedestrians and state that if a person violates these requirements: a) for the first violation, a peace office may only issue a warning; b) for a second violation, the person is responsible for a civil traffic violation; and c) for a third or subsequent violation, the person is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor; d) e) f).

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to set a clear legal boundary for pedestrians instead of leaving the conduct unaddressed. It would prohibit a pedestrian from congregating or engaging in solicitation if the pedestrian is: a) on a painted or raised traffic island or median; b) on an exit or entrance ramp or roadway of a controlled access highway; or c) in an intersection where there is not a sidewalk or a safe corridor for pedestrians, and would also state that if a person violates these requirements: a) for the first violation, a peace office may only issue a warning; b) for a second violation, the person is responsible for a civil traffic violation; and c) for a third or subsequent violation, the person is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor. d) e) f), rather than leave the current rule unchanged.