BATON ROUGE, La. — Governor Landry signed several bills during a ceremony, including House Bill 173, which would make it a crime to stand within 25 feet of a police officer if they’ve ordered you to stand back.
"This is part of our continued pledge to address public safety in the state," said Landry on Tuesday. "This was a bill that had been vetoed before, and is now going to be signed."
Legislators who supported the bill said it would protect police officers and the public.
"I think you see across America that violence on police officers continues to rise," said Rep. Bryan Fontenot, R-Thibodaux, who created HB 173. "It was a delicate balance of finding a safe distance for police officers to be able to do their job, both for them and the person that they are affecting."
Fontenot said the bill has been active across the nation and gives Louisiana police officers peace of mind and a safe distance to do their job.
Any person who fails to stay at least 25 feet from a law enforcement officer after being told to stay away could face up to 60 days in prison or a $500 fine, according to Nola.com.
However, some are opposed to the bill, stating it restricts the public's observation of police. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the bill "seeks to criminalize" those who approach law enforcement.
Read ACLU's full statement below:
“The twenty-five-foot buffer legislation fundamentally seeks to curtail Louisianians' ability to hold police accountable for violence and misconduct. If law enforcement officers were operating in a manner that safeguarded the well-being and constitutional rights of the public, there should be no objection to being observed. Moreover, HB 173 is impractical to enforce consistently and will exacerbate tensions in any situation involving law enforcement. We denounce the passage and signing of this legislation and urge our communities to stay vigilant and safe in response to these developments.”
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