Bill would make annoying a cop a crime

[hrmjustin]

ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) - A bill currently making its way through the State Legislature would make it a crime to annoy a police officer, a move that could have far reaching consequences.

The State Senate passed the bill Wednesday that makes it felony to "harass, annoy, threaten or alarm" an on duty police officer by subjecting them to any physical contact.

A press release from the NYS Senate originally stated, "The bill (S.2402), sponsored by Senator Joe Griffo (R-C-I, Rome) would make it a felony to harass, annoy, or threaten a police officer while on duty." However, as the bill is written, a person would be guilty of aggravated harassment of a police officer if he or she subjected that officer to physical contact with the intent to "harass, annoy, threaten or alarm" that officer.

The bill was sponsored by local Senators Pat Gallivan, George Maziarz and Michael Ranzenhofer, as well as Senator Joe Griffo (R) of Rome.

Read more at http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/new_york/bill-would-make-annoying-a-cop-a-crime

[TommyCelt]

1. IMO...

...the OP is making too much out of the word "annoy". The key phrase is "subjecting them to physical contact" while on duty.

Singing "Dick in a Box" to piss off Officer O'Malley is still quite legal. Just don't physcially accost him while doing so.

[hrmjustin]

2. Interesting point but I printed as the link put it.

Not many sources on the story and the few there were I would never use.

I doubt the bill will make it through the assembly.