Bill would make annoying a cop a felony

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/new_york/bill-would-make-annoying-a-cop-a-crime

Annoyance would have to accompany physical contact

Updated: Wednesday, 05 Jun 2013, 9:10 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 05 Jun 2013, 2:38 PM EDT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) – A bill currently making its way through the State Legislature would make it a crime to annoy a police officer, a move that could have far reaching consequences.

The State Senate passed the bill Wednesday that makes it felony to “harass, annoy, threaten or alarm” an on duty police officer by subjecting them to any physical contact.

A press release from the NYS Senate originally stated, “The bill (S.2402), sponsored by Senator Joe Griffo (R-C-I, Rome) would make it a felony to harass, annoy, or threaten a police officer while on duty.” However, as the bill is written, a person would be guilty of aggravated harassment of a police officer if he or she subjected that officer to physical contact with the intent to “harass, annoy, threaten or alarm” that officer.

The bill was sponsored by local Senators Pat Gallivan, George Maziarz and Michael Ranzenhofer, as well as Senator Joe Griffo (R) of Rome.

Griffo stated, “Police officers who risk their lives every day in our cities and on our highways deserve every possible protection, and those who treat them with disrespect, harass them and create situations that can lead to injuries deserve to pay a price for their actions.”

Anyone found guilty under the bill, should it become law, could face up to four years in prison.

The bill is now on its way to the State Assembly.

The exact language of the bill follows. You can also find it online here.

Tags: felony, New York, Police