A House-passed bill giving police the power to tell you to “stay back” while they’re engaged in their job passes out of a Senate Judiciary committee and will go to a Senate floor vote.
In committee, bill sponsor Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Pineville) told members the bill is about diffusing potentially volatile situations and is not an overreach by government.
“It’s not like I cannot approach a police officer," Rep. Johnson said. "It’s only when the police officer feels it’s necessary and exercises his right for space."
The bill states that if a cop in commission of his job tells you to stay back, you must keep a distance of at least 25 feet. Johnson says it will help avoid misunderstandings that can become violent.
Sen. Gary Carter (D-New Orleans) doesn’t like the bill and told Rep. Johnson so.
“Do you think that’s perhaps government overreach?” Sen. Carter asked Rep. Johnson.
“I don’t," Rep. Johnson replied. "Not given the harm we’re trying to prevent; I do not.”
Megan Gentry with the Louisiana association of Criminal Defense Attorneys also opposed the bill. She said she feels the 25-foot rule in the bill is unconstitutionally vague. She says when the bill was in House Criminal Justice Committee, the distance requirement confused lawmakers there, too.
“Everybody, all the members, were all trying to guess what’s 25 feet," Gentry said. "Nobody knew.”
Despite the objections, and one failed attempt to defer the bill, the committee voted 4-2 to send HB 85 to the Senate for what could be final passage.