Bill > S2115

This bill, known as the "Safe and Open Streets Act," amends Title 18 of the United States Code to create a new criminal offense of intentionally blocking public roads or highways in a way that interferes with commerce. Specifically, the bill establishes that anyone who purposely obstructs, delays, or affects commerce by blocking a public road can be subject to significant legal penalties, including a fine, imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both. The bill modifies existing law by adding a new subsection to Section 1951, which previously focused on interference with commerce through threats or violence. The legislation appears designed to discourage protests or demonstrations that involve blocking roadways, making such actions a federal crime if they impede the movement of goods or commercial activities. The bill also makes several technical amendments to cross-references in other sections of federal law to align with this new provision, removing language about threats of violence and updating section headings to reflect the broader scope of interference with commerce.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2115/all-info