BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — A bill is moving through the Louisiana legislature that could make it illegal to be within 25 feet of authorities after being advised to stay clear.
Those opposing the bill say it’s unconstitutional.
If the bill passes into law, you could be fined $500 and go to jail for 60 days.
House Bill 85 raises concerns about its constitutionality and those opposed are worried about the potential for abuse and the ability to film officers.
“We know that eyewitness accounts, recordings of police misconduct, police brutality are the number one form of evidence that we have when we’re displaying that there is police misconduct,” said Stephanie L. Willis, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Louisiana Policy Strategist.
Those opposing the bill also point to a law that’s already on the books. That makes it illegal for people to interfere with law enforcement investigations.
If the bill is passed, the ACLU will ask the governor to veto it.
