2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 16 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES (§§ 16-1-1 — 16-17-10) › Chapter 10 - OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (§§ 16-10-1 — 16-10-98) › Article 2 - OBSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND RELATED OFFENSES (§§ 16-10-20 — 16-10-35) › Section 16-10-24 - Obstructing or hindering law enforcement officers

(a)
Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, a person who knowingly and willfully obstructs or hinders any law enforcement officer, prison guard, jailer, correctional officer, community supervision officer, county or Department of Juvenile Justice juvenile probation officer, probation officer serving pursuant to Article 6 of Chapter 8 of Title 42, or game warden in the lawful discharge of his or her official duties shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b)
Whoever knowingly and willfully resists, obstructs, or opposes any law enforcement officer, prison guard, jailer, correctional officer, community supervision officer, county or Department of Juvenile Justice juvenile probation officer, probation officer serving pursuant to Article 6 of Chapter 8 of Title 42, or game warden in the lawful discharge of his or her official duties by offering or doing violence to the person of such officer or legally authorized person shall be guilty of a felony and shall, upon a first conviction thereof, be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five years. Upon a second conviction for a violation of this subsection, such person shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two years nor more than ten years. Upon a third or subsequent conviction for a violation of this subsection, such person shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than three years nor more than 15 years.
(c)
Whoever knowingly and willfully resists, obstructs, or opposes any law enforcement officer, prison guard, jailer, correctional officer, community supervision officer, county or Department of Juvenile Justice juvenile probation officer, probation officer serving pursuant to Article 6 of Chapter 8 of Title 42, or game warden in the lawful discharge of his or her official duties by knowingly and willfully throwing, projecting, or expelling human or animal blood, urine, feces, vomitus, or seminal fluid on or at such individual shall be guilty of a felony and shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five years.
(d)
A person convicted under this Code section shall be punished, in addition to any term of imprisonment imposed, by a fine as provided by law which shall be at least $300.00. With respect to $300.00 of the fine imposed, after distributing the surcharges and deductions required by Chapter 21 of Title 15, Code Sections
36-15-9
and
42-8-34
, and Title 47, it shall be earmarked for the Georgia State Indemnification Fund for purposes of payment of indemnification for death or disability as provided for in Part 1 of Article 5 of Chapter 9 of Title 45.
Amended by 2019 Ga. Laws 264,§ 7, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by 2017 Ga. Laws 198,§ 3-4, eff. 7/1/2017.
Amended by 2015 Ga. Laws 73,§ 5-22, eff. 7/1/2015.
2002 Ga. Laws 952, § 11, eff. 7/1/2002, and 2002 Ga. Laws 787, § 4, eff. 7/1/2002, purported to amend this section by changing "fireman" to "firefighter"; however, that word does not appear in this section. Section 16-10-24.1 is apparently the section meant to be amended.