House
File
226
-
Introduced
HOUSE
FILE
226
BY
KAUFMANN
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
prohibiting
persons
from
intentionally
blocking
or
1
organizing
others
to
block
the
movement
of
traffic
on
2
certain
highways,
and
providing
penalties.
3
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
4
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226
Section
1.
NEW
SECTION
.
318.6A
Intentional
blocking
of
1
traffic
prohibited
——
organizing
others
to
block
prohibited
——
2
penalties
——
exceptions.
3
1.
A
person
shall
not
loiter
on
the
traveled
portion
of
4
the
right-of-way
of
a
highway
with
a
speed
limit
of
fifty-five
5
miles
per
hour
or
more
with
the
intention
of
blocking
the
6
normal
and
reasonable
movement
of
motor
vehicle
traffic.
7
A
person
who
violates
this
subsection
commits
a
serious
8
misdemeanor
punishable
by
a
fine
in
the
amount
of
one
thousand
9
dollars,
which
shall
be
in
lieu
of
any
other
punishment
imposed
10
under
this
chapter.
11
2.
A
person
shall
not
perform
an
activity
related
to
12
organizing,
scheduling,
or
otherwise
assembling
a
group
of
13
persons
if
the
person
knows
or
should
reasonably
know
the
group
14
of
persons
will
violate
subsection
1.
A
person
who
violates
15
this
subsection
commits
an
aggravated
misdemeanor,
which
shall
16
be
in
lieu
of
any
other
punishment
imposed
under
this
chapter.
17
3.
This
section
shall
not
apply
to
a
person
who
blocks
18
the
movement
of
traffic
for
the
purpose
of
obtaining
law
19
enforcement,
medical,
or
mechanical
assistance.
This
section
20
shall
also
not
apply
to
a
person
who
is
a
peace
officer
or
21
emergency
responder,
who
is
engaged
in
highway
construction
22
or
maintenance,
or
who
is
an
employee
of
a
federal,
state,
or
23
local
government,
if
the
person
is
acting
within
the
scope
of
24
the
person’s
duties.
25
EXPLANATION
26
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
27
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
28
Under
current
law,
a
person
is
prohibited
from
placing
an
29
obstruction
in
the
highway
right-of-way,
including
the
traveled
30
portion
of
the
roadway.
A
person
who
violates
this
provision
31
is
subject
to
an
injunction
and
guilty
of
creating
a
public
32
nuisance,
an
aggravated
misdemeanor
punishable
by
imprisonment
33
not
to
exceed
two
years
and
a
fine
of
at
least
$625
but
not
to
34
exceed
$6,250.
Any
obstruction
is
subject
to
removal.
35
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226
This
bill
prohibits
a
person
from
loitering
on
the
traveled
1
portion
of
the
right-of-way
of
a
highway
with
a
speed
limit
2
of
55
miles
per
hour
or
more
with
the
intention
of
blocking
3
the
normal
and
reasonable
movement
of
motor
vehicle
traffic.
4
A
person
who
violates
this
provision
commits
a
serious
5
misdemeanor
punishable
by
a
fine
of
$1,000,
which
is
in
lieu
of
6
any
other
punishment
imposed
under
Code
chapter
318.
7
The
bill
also
prohibits
a
person
from
performing
an
activity
8
related
to
organizing,
scheduling,
or
otherwise
assembling
a
9
group
of
persons
if
the
person
knows
or
should
reasonably
know
10
the
group
of
persons
will
loiter
on
the
traveled
portion
of
11
the
right-of-way
of
a
highway
with
a
speed
limit
of
55
miles
12
per
hour
or
more
with
the
intention
of
blocking
the
normal
and
13
reasonable
movement
of
motor
vehicle
traffic.
A
person
who
14
violates
this
provision
commits
an
aggravated
misdemeanor,
15
which
is
in
lieu
of
any
other
punishment
imposed
under
Code
16
chapter
318.
17
The
bill
does
not
apply
to
a
person
who
blocks
the
movement
18
of
traffic
for
the
purpose
of
obtaining
law
enforcement,
19
medical,
or
mechanical
assistance.
In
addition,
the
20
bill
does
not
apply
to
a
person
who
is
a
peace
officer
or
21
emergency
responder,
who
is
engaged
in
highway
construction
22
or
maintenance,
or
who
is
an
employee
of
a
federal,
state,
or
23
local
government,
if
the
person
is
acting
within
the
scope
of
24
the
person’s
duties.
25
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