SLS 24RS-336 REENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 339
BY SENATOR HARRIS
CRIME/PUNISHMENT. Provides relative to aggravated and simple obstruction of a
highway of commerce. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 14:96(A) and 97(A), and to enact R.S. 14:97(C), relative to
3 obstructing highways of commerce; to provide relative to the definition of a railway;
4 to increase certain penalties; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 14:96(A) and 97(A) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
7 14:97(C) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 §96. Aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce
9 A. Aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce is the intentional or
10 criminally negligent placing of anything or performance of any act on any railway,
11 including a streetcar railway, railroad, navigable waterway, road, highway,
12 thoroughfare, or runway of an airport, wherein it is foreseeable that human life might
13 be endangered.
14 * * *
15 §97. Simple obstruction of a highway of commerce
16 A. Simple obstruction of a highway of commerce is the intentional or
17 criminally negligent placing of anything or performance of any act on any railway,
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 339
SLS 24RS-336 REENGROSSED
1 including a streetcar railway, railroad, navigable waterway, road, highway,
2 thoroughfare, or runway of an airport, which will render movement thereon more
3 difficult.
4 B. Whoever commits the crime of simple obstruction of a highway of
5 commerce shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not
6 more than six months, or both.
7 C. Whoever commits the crime of simple obstruction of a highway of
8 commerce on a streetcar railway shall be fined not less than two thousand five
9 hundred dollars.
10 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor, or if not
11 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
12 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
13 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
14 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument was prepared by Archana Cadge. The following
digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was
prepared by Thomas L. Tyler.
DIGEST
SB 339 Reengrossed 2024 Regular Session Harris
Present law provides the penalties for obstructing a highway of commerce including a
railway, railroad, navigable waterway, road, highway, thoroughfare, or runway of an airport.
Proposed law retains present law and clarifies that railways include streetcar railways.
Present law provides a monetary penalty for simple obstruction of a highway of commerce
including a fine of $200 or less.
Proposed law retains present law and creates a fine of $2,500 for simple obstruction.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 14:96(A) and 97(A); adds R.S. 14:97(C))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill
1. Removes limitation that the simple obstruction occur before or after a public
event.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.