HB 1076: Crimes and offenses; create felony offense of obstruction of a law enforcement officer with a motor vehicle

Georgia law already criminalizes obstructing law enforcement officers, but this bill adds a specific new crime aimed at using a motor vehicle to interfere with officers. It amends the state's obstruction laws (O.C.G.A. Title 16, Chapter 10, Article 2) by adding a new Code section, 16-10-24.5. Under the bill, a person commits this offense when they use a moving or stationary motor vehicle to knowingly obstruct, hinder, block, or otherwise interfere with a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer who is lawfully carrying out official duties. The bill borrows the definition of 'motor vehicle' from existing Georgia traffic law (O.C.G.A. § 40-1-1). A conviction is a felony, carrying a fine of up to $100,000 and a prison sentence of one to five years. The bill does not include a stated effective date beyond the standard repeal of conflicting laws.

• Creates a new felony crime, obstruction of a law enforcement officer with a motor vehicle, under a new Code section 16-10-24.5.
• Defines the offense as knowingly using a moving or stationary vehicle to obstruct, hinder, block, or interfere with a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer performing official duties.
• Sets the penalty at a fine of up to $100,000 and imprisonment of one to five years upon conviction.
• Adopts the existing legal definition of 'motor vehicle' from Georgia's traffic code (O.C.G.A. § 40-1-1) rather than writing a new one.
• Repeals any existing Georgia laws that conflict with this new offense.

Drivers who interact with law enforcement, including at traffic stops, protests, or pursuits, would face this new felony charge if they use a vehicle to block or interfere with officers. Federal, state, and local law enforcement officers are the protected class under the new offense, and prosecutors and courts would apply the new charge and penalties.

People who use a vehicle to block, hinder, or interfere with police, whether intentionally in a confrontation or in ambiguous situations like refusing to move during a stop, could now face a felony conviction, a large fine, and mandatory prison time rather than a lesser existing charge.

• Section 1 adds new Code section 16-10-24.5 to Georgia's obstruction of public administration laws (Title 16, Chapter 10, Article 2).
• Subsection (a) defines 'motor vehicle' by reference to the definition already used in Georgia's motor vehicle code (O.C.G.A. § 40-1-1).
• Subsection (b) defines the offense: knowingly using a moving or stationary motor vehicle to obstruct, hinder, block, or interfere with a law enforcement officer performing lawful duties.
• Subsection (c) sets the penalty as a felony punishable by a fine of not more than $100,000 and imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than five years.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting state laws.

1. 2026-03-25Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
2. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
3. 2026-03-04Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
4. 2026-03-03House Passed/Adopted (House)
5. 2026-03-03House Third Readers (House)
6. 2026-02-26House Postponed (House)
7. 2026-02-25House Postponed (House)
8. 2026-02-24House Committee Favorably Reported (House)

• Ginny Ehrhart (R, HD-036)Primary sponsor
• James Burchett (R, HD-176)
• Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)
• Steven Sainz (R, HD-180)
• Tyler Smith (R, HD-018)
• David Jenkins (R, HD-136)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 3, 2026

   97 yea, 64 nay (3 not voting, 13 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #598

• law enforcement
• criminal penalties
• obstruction laws
• felony offenses
• traffic stops