A new bill that would increase penalties for demonstrators who obstruct freeways in California was introduced Feb. 15, a response to multiple recent highway blockings by protesters.
If the bill is passed, demonstrators obstructing traffic could face fines ranging from $200 to $500 for first convictions, $300 to $1,000 for second convictions, and $500 to $1,000 for third convictions.
“Protesters are trying to score a cheap political point or advance an agenda and, quite honesty, that can have real-world devastating consequences,” Ms. Sanchez said in an interview with ABC7.
Most recently, about 50 protesters temporarily halted traffic in both directions on the Golden Gate Bridge on the morning of Feb. 14 in response to Israel’s bombing of Rafah, a city in the Gaza Strip.
The incident came several months after around 80 protesters blocked all westbound lanes of the Bay Bridge for hours during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November, causing massive traffic snarls for both regular commuters and emergency responders.
Some of the protesters are also facing charges from San Francisco District Attorney Brook Jenkins.
“While we must protect avenues for free speech, the exercise of free speech cannot compromise public safety,” Ms. Jenkins said in a statement. “The demonstration on the Bay Bridge that snarled traffic for hours had a tremendous impact on those who were stuck on the bridge and required tremendous public resources to resolve.”
The bill, co-sponsored by nine other Republicans, has not yet been assigned to a committee hearing.
