Posted on 01/16/2017 2:02:58 PM PST by Drango
Protesters may want to think twice about blocking roads in North Dakota.
Republican lawmakers in the state introduced a bill last week in the legislature that would not hold motorists liable for negligently running over someone obstructing a roadway. The bill was introduced in response to a year of protests over a proposed pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.
"A driver of a motor vehicle who negligently causes injury or death to an individual obstructing vehicular traffic on a public road, street, or highway may not be held liable for any damages," the bill reads. "A driver of a motor vehicle who unintentionally causes injury or death to an individual obstructing vehicular traffic on a public road, street, or highway is not guilty of an offense."
Lawmakers told the Bismarck Tribune that the bill is needed after protesters blocked traffic during oil pipeline protests.
"It’s shifting the burden of proof from the motor vehicle driver to the pedestrian,” Rep. Keith Kempenich told the paper. (Roads) are not there for the protesters. They’re intentionally putting themselves in danger."
The bill will be heard by the North Dakota's House Transportation Committee on Friday.
How is this bill going to distinguish between “protestors” and people merely walking along the side of the road?
The Tread Wheels on my Sherman Tank do need greasing.
Awesome!
It may be legal, but it’s still morally wrong.
Lol
It’s morally wrong if you deliberately aim to kill them. But if they endanger you, you have the right to self defense and for me, that means hitting the gas if you have to to get out of dodge.
Besides, it sill teach the others to not hang out in the middle of the road.
Good, long overdue.
Yes it is morally wrong to keep people from getting to work.
They should also award fuel points at Kroger too.
“It may be legal, but it’s still morally wrong.”
It only applies to unintentional or negligent acts so how could it be morally wrong?
You answered it yourself.
I suspect there will be a big increase in those super truck bumpers.
I was picturing the Deathmobile while reading this article, ya beat me to it. Heh!
Is there a special provision in the bill to protect people who may be protesting for a worthwhile cause such as people at a Pro-Life Rally or Pro 2A Rally?
If I walked out into the middle of a busy interstate highway and got killed, no one would be charging the driver who killed me with anything. The cops might even say that I was the one doing something illegal and they’d be right. But once you call yourself a “protestor” and protest some PC trendy Leftwing cause, then you can walk out into the highway and cars have to stop or else they will be charged with a crime. The world is so screwed up.
The dead ones.
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