Nassau County lawmakers wish to make it unlawful to face inside 15 toes of cops and different emergency staff — however critics say the “buffer zone” could be unconstitutional.
Civilians who enter the “zone” for police, firefighters and different first responders throughout an emergency could be slapped with a misdemeanor and a $1,000 tremendous — with the potential for as much as a yr behind bars, in response to a brand new invoice launched by Republicans within the county Board of Legislators.
The objective of the invoice goals to guard emergency responders from “threats, harassment, and bodily interference” whereas on the job, in response to lawmakers.
“It will be significant that first responders will not be obstructed throughout emergency conditions and that our frontline heroes are allowed to interact within the lifesaving actions they’re skilled to carry out with out distractions,” Legislator John Ferretti stated.
The proposed regulation has bipartisan assist from some Democrats, together with Seth Koslow, who’s working for county govt in opposition to Republican incumbent Bruce Blakeman.
“Our cops and first responders shouldn’t must combat crowds whereas they’re saving lives,” Koslow instructed The Submit. “This invoice provides them the authority to maintain chaos out and do their jobs with out interference. It’s backed by each events — as a result of defending those that shield us shouldn’t be political.”
State regulation already punishes individuals who intrude with first responders with as much as a yr in jail, three years of probation, or a $1,000 tremendous.
However the county’s 15-foot buffer goes a step farther, blocking anybody from even strolling close to an emergency employee — a distinction that riled critics, who stated it might simply be abused.
“Floating buffer zones supply yet one more means for police to maintain their actions hidden from public scrutiny,” Justin Harrison, senior coverage counsel on the NYCLU, instructed The Submit. “Legal guidelines that make it more durable to observe the police don’t make anyone safer — in actuality, they violate the Structure, run counter to authorities transparency rules, and foster mistrust in regulation enforcement.”
Harrison referenced different states which have handed, after which blocked, comparable legal guidelines all through the nation.
Louisiana handed a regulation final yr banning individuals from getting inside 25 toes of police after being instructed to again up — however a federal decide blocked it final month, ruling it violated the 14th Modification’s due course of rules and will infringe on a reporter’s First Modification proper to movie officers and collect information.
Comparable legal guidelines in Arizona and Indiana have additionally been struck down by federal judges.
“We anticipate that Nassau’s regulation, if handed, will meet the identical destiny,” Harrison stated.
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