Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed a bill into law that would make it a crime to stand within 25 feet of a police officer after they order you to stand back.
Bill author, Republican Representative Bryan Fontenot of Thibodaux says they worked to find a distance that makes sense.
“There was a delicate balance of finding a safe distance for police officers doing their job and the person being affected an arrest on.”
Fontenot says that violence against police officers is on the rise.
ACLU Policy Strategist Stephanie Willis says the legislation stops Louisianians’ ability to hold police accountable, impractical to enforce and violates a citizens 1st amendment rights.
“Having the ability to observe police interaction is fundamental in our constitution and its one of the ways we can hold police officers and law enforcement accountable.”
Anyone that fails to stay at least 25 feet from law enforcement after being told to stay away could face up to 60 days in prison or a $500 fine under the new law.
