Safe and Open Streets Act
Safe and Open Streets Act would add a new federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 1951 (the Hobbs Act) that makes it unlawful to block a public road or highway in order to obstruct, delay, or otherwise affect the movement of goods in commerce. The offense covers purposeful blocking “in any way or degree,” and it also criminalizes attempts or conspiracies to block. The penalty is a fine, or imprisonment for up to five years, or both. The bill also reorganizes the section heading and related cross-references to remove references to “threats or violence,” aligning other statutes with this nonviolent blocking standard. In short, it aims to deter road blockades that disrupt interstate or federal commerce by introducing a federal criminal penalty for such actions, including nonviolent blocking and coordination to block.
Key Points
- 1Prohibition: It is unlawful to obstruct, delay, or affect commerce or movement of any article or commodity in commerce by blocking a public road or highway, including attempts or conspiracies to do so.
- 2Penalty: Violators face a federal fine, up to 5 years in prison, or both.
- 3Scope of conduct: Applies to blocking “in any way or degree,” not limited to violent actions; includes nonviolent sit-ins or blockades.
- 4Conspiracies and attempts: The offense covers actual blocking as well as attempts or conspiracies to block.
- 5Conforming amendments: Recasts the 1951 heading (removing “by threats or violence”) and updates cross references in related laws to remove language tied to threats of violence.