HB 2658 Initials JB Page 1 House Engrossed ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session House: TI DP 6-3-2-0 HB 2658: pedestrians; congregating; medians; unsafe locations Sponsor: Representative Chaplik, LD 3 House Engrossed Overview Prohibits a pedestrian from congregating or engaging in solicitation if they are on a painted or raised traffic median or island, on an exit or entrance ramp or roadway of a controlled access highway or in an unsafe location where there is no sidewalk or safe corridor for pedestrians. History A person commits obstructing a highway or other public thoroughfare if the person, alone or with others: 1) having no legal privilege to do so, recklessly interferes with the passage of any highway or public thoroughfare by creating an unreasonable inconvenience or hazard. A person guilty of this is responsible for a class 2 misdemeanor and for a second or subsequent violation within 24 months a class 1 misdemeanor; 2) intentionally activates a pedestrian signal on a highway or public thoroughfare if their reason for activating the signal is not the cross the highway or thoroughfare but to stop the passage of traffic and solicit a driver for a donation or business. A person guilty of this is responsible for a class 3 misdemeanor; or 3) after receiving a verbal warning to desist, intentionally interferes with passage on a highway or other public thoroughfare or entrance into a public forum that results in preventing other persons from gaining access to a governmental meeting, hearing or a political campaign event. A person guilty of this is responsible for a class 1 misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 13-2906). Provisions 1. Prohibits a pedestrian from congregating or engaging in solicitation if the pedestrian is: a) on a painted or raised traffic island or median; b) on an exit or entrance ramp or roadway of a controlled access highway; or c) in an unsafe location where there is not a sidewalk or a safe corridor for pedestrians. (Sec. 1) 2. State that if a person violates these requirements: a) for the first violation, a peace office may only issue a warning; b) for a second violation, the person is responsible for a civil traffic violation; and c) for a third or subsequent violation, the person is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor. (Sec. 1) ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note