Bill pushes to double fines for protesters who block highways

(KRON) – A bill making its way through the state legislature wants to double the fines for protesters who block highways and freeways. It’s gaining bipartisan support in the state capitol, but not across the state.

The bill is proposing to increase fines for protesters every time they are convicted of blocking traffic on highways. The hope is to deter them from doing it again, but civil rights advocates say tougher penalties will not stop people from speaking out.

Amid a series of protests relating to the Israel-Hamas war, assemblywoman Kate Sanchez has introduced legislation that would crack down on any demonstrations blocking traffic on highways in California. Sanchez said she became frustrated after 78 protesters arrested for blocking the Bay Bridge in November were only ordered to five hours of community service and $57 fines.

What to know about pro-Palestine university protests, from Texas to California

“This becomes a public safety and health care risk. Honestly, I would hate to get to the point where we would get to the point of losing even one life,” she said.

Under current state law, protesters can be fined anywhere between $100 to $500. Sanchez wants to raise those fines up to $1,000 depending on past convictions.

“Because we have seen these laws in the books are not enough. It’s not a deterrent right now. We believe that doubling them. DAs have more tools in the toolbox to go after those who are continually putting people’s lives at risk,” she said.

This bill passed in a transportation committee hearing by both Democrats and Republicans. The California Highway Patrol Association is also in favor, saying these protests prevent first responders from doing their job.

“Law enforcement is prevented from helping a victim, fire trucks are prevented and delayed from going to a fire, ambulances are prevented from getting to a patient. Terrible we need to make a change,” said Joelle McCoy with the California Highway Patrol Association.

Zahra Billoo, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, is speaking out against the bill.

“Frankly, I’m appalled that our legislators are using the pretense of transportation and public safety to quell First Amendment activity,” she said. “Our lawmakers have lost the plot. California has urgent needs and our country is funding a war abroad.”

Billoo says if this bill gets passed into law, it won’t stop protestors.

“The only way to deter protestors is to urge and implement a ceasefire now,” she said.

Bay Area assemblymembers Phil Ting and Lori Wilson both voted no on the bill. Ting didn’t explain why, while Wilson said she thinks the current policy is enough.

Gov. Gavin Newsom did speak out against the recent protest on the Golden Gate Bridge, saying he respects First Amendment rights but there has to be a better way of expressing it. He also said people should be held accountable.

Assemblywoman Sanchez says she is hopeful her bill will make its way to the governor’s desk. It next goes to an appropriations committee.

Oakland Privacy released the following statement in response to the bill:

“Oakland Privacy is opposed to AB 2742 because there are already multiple provisions in the CA Penal Code addressing obstructing public routes and they are misdemeanor crimes and not traffic infractions. What AB 2742 is trying to do is remove judicial discretion or letting judges decide the appropriate financial penalty based on the circumstances. We don’t support disempowering California judges in this way. We also want to say that civil disobedience is always unpopular when it happens, but is often praised with the passage of time. Mohandas Gandhi disrupted the operations of the British Empire, and the Boston Tea Party was a riot. We encourage any protest that is blockading traffic to let ambulances and emergency vehicles through, but we don’t want to outlaw protests, even noisy inconvenient ones –  and we don’t think anyone should be trying to do that.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.