Bill > H1644

This bill proposes to increase the penalties for trespassing on state highways, which are public roads maintained by the state. Specifically, it amends existing law to establish that anyone who knowingly, willfully, or wantonly enters a state highway without a valid reason, such as a disabled vehicle or a medical emergency, will face a fine of at least $5,000 or up to six months in jail. The penalties are further increased if the trespassing prevents someone from receiving necessary medical treatment, with fines starting at $7,000 or up to a year in jail. In the most severe cases, if the trespassing leads to the death of a patient needing medical care, the punishment escalates to a $10,000 fine, imprisonment for up to two and a half years in a local jail or house of correction, or up to five years in state prison, or a combination of both.