BATON ROUGE, La. — House bill 383 has been controversial. From Bourbon Street to second lines, the culture of New Orleans often overflows onto its streets. Often, without permits.
New Orleans culture bearers and allies have spoken out loudly against its passage. A video put together by Empower You Nola, the Feather Fund, and Data News Weekly urges people to call their lawmakers in dissent.
There have been some amendments made.
The law now reads that the driver must feel like the immediate danger or harm would be caused by the people blocking the road. And that any damage caused cannot be intentional.
But at its core, it means pedestrians have no course of civil legal action against drivers who injure them if that driver feels threatened.
When questioned about the bill, Representative Jay Galle could not cite any specific instance in Louisiana where this law would have benefitted someone.
It has now passed both chambers.
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