Safe Passage on Interstates Act of 2023

Subjects: Crime and Law Enforcement, Criminal procedure and sentencing, First responders and emergency personnel, Motor vehicles, Roads and highways, Transportation safety and security

Summary:  <p><b>Safe Passage on Interstates Act of 2023</b></p> <p>This bill establishes a new federal criminal offense for the obstruction of interstate highways. </p> <p>Specifically, the bill makes it unlawful to knowingly engage in a listed activity with the intent to obstruct the free, convenient, and normal use of the interstate highway. The listed activities are (1) deliberately delaying traffic, (2) standing or approaching a motor vehicle, or (3) endangering the safe movement of a motor vehicle. </p> <p>A violation is subject to criminal penalties.</p> <p>The bill provides an exception for any lawful activity conducted or authorized by the federal government or by a state or local government.</p>

<html><body><pre>[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 192 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

&lt;DOC&gt;






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 192

     To criminalize the intentional obstruction of roadways on the 
                           Interstate System.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 31, 2023

 Mr. Rubio (for himself and Mr. Cramer) introduced the following bill; 
  which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To criminalize the intentional obstruction of roadways on the 
                           Interstate System.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Passage on Interstates Act of 
2023''.

SEC. 2. OBSTRUCTION OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 65 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 1370. Obstruction of interstate highways
    ``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `interstate highway' 
means a highway on the Interstate System (as defined in section 101(a) 
of title 23).
    ``(b) Offense.--
            ``(1) In general.--It shall be unlawful to knowingly engage 
        in an activity described in paragraph (2) on an interstate 
        highway with the intent to obstruct the free, convenient, and 
        normal use of the interstate highway.
            ``(2) Activities described.--The activities described in 
        this paragraph are--
                    ``(A) deliberately delaying traffic on an 
                interstate highway;
                    ``(B) standing or approaching a motor vehicle on an 
                interstate highway; or
                    ``(C) endangering the safe movement of a motor 
                vehicle on an interstate highway.
            ``(3) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any 
        lawful activity conducted or authorized by the United States, a 
        State, or a political subdivision of a State.
    ``(c) Penalties.--
            ``(1) In general.--Any person who violates subsection (b) 
        shall be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned for not more 
        than 15 years, or both.
            ``(2) Obstruction of emergency vehicle.--Any person who, in 
        the course of violating subsection (b), knowingly obstructs the 
        passage of an authorized emergency vehicle (as defined in 
        section 1001.4 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, or any 
        successor regulation) shall be fined not more than $15,000, 
        imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both.
            ``(3) Violation resulting in death.--Any person who commits 
        a violation of subsection (b) that results in the death of any 
        other person shall be fined not more than the applicable amount 
        under paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection, imprisoned for 
        any term of years or for life, or both.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for 
chapter 65 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following:

``1370. Obstruction of interstate highways.''.
                                 &lt;all&gt;
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