ATLANTA — The Georgia Senate adopted legislation Tuesday that would increase the fine for protesting in streets.
Senate Bill 443 started as a measure that would have allowed felony charges against protesters who block roads.
But the author, Sen. Carden Summers, R-Cordele, agreed to amendments that reduced the significantly enhanced criminal charge he had proposed. Currently, the offense is a misdemeanor, but SB 443 would increase that to a high and aggravated misdemeanor.
Both could net the perpetrator up to a year in jail. But the maximum fine for a high and aggravated misdemeanor is $5,000 while the maximum fine for a misdemeanor is $1,000.
Summers said protesters who block roads are preventing the passage of ambulances, firetrucks and parents trying to get to their child’s school.
“It is a simple common-sense bill,” he said. “It is something that parents should have taught people a long time ago: Don’t block the streets.”
The measure passed 35-17 and now goes to the House.
