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Bill > S3103
NJ S3103
NJ S3103Clarifies crime of highway and public passage obstruction and increases penalties.
summary
Introduced
04/15/2024
04/15/2024
In Committee
04/15/2024
04/15/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill creates separate crimes for recklessly and purposefully obstructing a highway or public passage in this State and increases the penalties for doing so. Under current law, it is a petty disorderly offense for a person, who, having no legal privilege to do so, purposely or recklessly obstructs any highway or other public passage whether alone or with others. Further, it is a petty disorderly persons offense for a person in a gathering to refuse to obey a reasonable official request or order to move off the highway or public passage. A petty disorderly offense is punishable by up to 30 days imprisonment, a fine of up to $500, or both. Under the bill, it is a disorderly persons offense for a person who, having no legal privilege to do so, recklessly obstructs any highway or other public passage. Further, it is a crime of the fourth degree for a person who, having no legal privilege to do so, purposely obstructs, delays, or affects commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by obstructing any highway or other public passage. Finally, the bill makes it a disorderly persons offense for a person in a gathering to refuse to obey a reasonable official request or order to move off the highway or public passage. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
AI Summary
This bill clarifies the crime of obstructing highways and public passages by creating separate offenses for reckless and purposeful obstruction and increasing the associated penalties. Previously, both reckless and purposeful obstruction were classified as a "petty disorderly offense," a minor offense punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine. Under this bill, recklessly obstructing a highway or public passage without legal privilege remains a "disorderly persons offense," which carries a higher penalty of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Crucially, the bill introduces a new, more serious offense: purposely obstructing, delaying, or affecting commerce or the movement of goods by blocking a highway or public passage is now a "crime of the fourth degree," punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. The bill also maintains that refusing a reasonable official order to move from a gathering that is obstructing passage or posing a public safety risk is a disorderly persons offense. The term "obstructs" is defined as rendering a passage impassable without unreasonable inconvenience or hazard.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (4)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 04/15/2024)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S3103 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S3500/3103_I1.HTM |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/S3500/3103_I1.HTM |
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