Senate Bill 443
By: Senators Summers of the 13th, Albers of the 56th, Dixon of the 45th, Hickman of the
4th, Ginn of the 47th and others
AS PASSED
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to offenses against public order, so as to provide for the offense of obstructing
highways or streets; to provide for punishment; to authorize civil liability for damages; to
provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
offenses against public order, is amended by revising Code Section 16-11-43, relating to
obstructing highways, streets, sidewalks, or other public passages, as follows:
"16-11-43.
A person who, without authority of law, purposely or recklessly obstructs any highway, <ins>or
</ins> street, <del>sidewalk, or other public passage</del> in such a way as to render it impassable without
unreasonable inconvenience or hazard and fails or refuses to remove the obstruction after
receiving a reasonable official request or the order of a peace officer that he <ins>or she</ins> do so,
is guilty of a <ins>high and aggravated</ins> misdemeanor. <ins>In addition to any other fine, penalty, or
</ins>
<ins>restitution which may be imposed by law, such person may be held civilly liable for
damages that results from an offense of this Code section."
A person who, without authority of law, purposely or recklessly obstructs any sidewalk or
other public passage in such a way to render it impassable without unreasonable
inconvenience or hazard and fails or refuses to remove the obstruction after receiving a
reasonable official request or the order of a peace officer that he or she do so is guilty of
a misdemeanor.
</ins> SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.