Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Running over protesters on roadways could soon be legal in North Dakota
wkbw ^ | Jan 15 '17 | Justin Boggs

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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: North Dakota
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-130 next last
To: Drango

Interesting!


41 posted on 01/16/2017 2:22:47 PM PST by AEMILIUS PAULUS
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: proxy_user

Tell that to Reginald Denny.

You get out of a situation like that because mobs will murder you.


42 posted on 01/16/2017 2:23:21 PM PST by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Publius
That was my first thought. 5 points for a hippie, 10 points for a liberal, 20 points for a feminazi, and 30 points for a communist.

What if they are a Communist Feminazi Liberal Hippy?

43 posted on 01/16/2017 2:23:43 PM PST by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Army Air Corps

A nice four wheel drive with a couple of feet of clearance should just about do it.


44 posted on 01/16/2017 2:24:03 PM PST by DoughtyOne (John McStain. The friend of those who hate our nation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: meyer

The solution is to drive 5 mph. They have ample time to avoid any kind of danger. Then the choice falls back onto them and if they stay in the road when everyone else got out of the way, they made that decision.


45 posted on 01/16/2017 2:24:36 PM PST by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Timpanagos1
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?

I don't think it was addressed since such people don't obstruct traffic or harass citizens........

46 posted on 01/16/2017 2:24:36 PM PST by Hot Tabasco
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: DuncanWaring

“How is this bill going to distinguish between “protestors” and people merely walking along the side of the road?”...

First, the “bill” is NOT going to be driving a truck or a car. It is a law specifically to notify IDIOTS to stay out of the traffic lanes. If the people on the side of the road don’t know enough to stay the hell off the roads, so be it. Disrupting traffic deliberately is far different than just walking along.


47 posted on 01/16/2017 2:24:45 PM PST by DaveA37
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: meyer

Who knows if these are not ambush situations. If they do it by an overpass, bricks and crap can come down on you, you can get swarmed and pulled from your cars.


48 posted on 01/16/2017 2:25:49 PM PST by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Army Air Corps

Nah, it’d just roll up on top of them and stall with the back wheels spinning. You need one of those SUV’s that go all crazy on the road and drive all over the place, with a nice bull bar on the front.


49 posted on 01/16/2017 2:26:57 PM PST by SkyDancer (Ambition Without Talent Is Sad, Talent Without Ambition Is Worse)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Opinionated Blowhard

It is screwed up. Immensely.

I keep expecting Christ coming back every day.


50 posted on 01/16/2017 2:27:00 PM PST by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: proxy_user

The bill says “unintentionally”. How can something unintentional be morally wrong?


51 posted on 01/16/2017 2:27:24 PM PST by Boogieman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Drango

In California you have to stop when a pedestrian enters a crosswalk. I’m not talking about at a light, just in any old crosswalk.


52 posted on 01/16/2017 2:27:27 PM PST by Lisbon1940 (No full-term Governors (at the time of election!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: proxy_user

“To slay a man is a serious thing, and should only be done in self-defense or in a just war.”

Read the opening post again:

“A driver of a motor vehicle who unintentionally causes injury or death...”

See the word UNINTENTIONALLY?


53 posted on 01/16/2017 2:27:32 PM PST by vladimir998 (Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Drango

Ah yes, the culture of Life.


54 posted on 01/16/2017 2:27:56 PM PST by Wolfie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SkyDancer

Bricks and rocks are lethal weapons in the context of being thrown at or dropped on moving motor vehicles.


55 posted on 01/16/2017 2:28:04 PM PST by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Timpanagos1

No, a distinction like that would make the law unconstitutional. Just don’t block the roadways, no matter how important you think your cause is.


56 posted on 01/16/2017 2:28:25 PM PST by Boogieman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Bonus points, like in Scrabble. Double Hit Score.


57 posted on 01/16/2017 2:28:25 PM PST by Publius ("Who is John Galt?" by Billthedrill and Publius available at Amazon.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Drango

Is there a point and scoring system?


58 posted on 01/16/2017 2:28:55 PM PST by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH-pk2vZG2M)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: proxy_user

reading comprehension...


59 posted on 01/16/2017 2:29:03 PM PST by bigbob (We have better coverage than Verizon - Can You Hear Us Now?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man

Yep, and as it was written “Ramming Speed”


60 posted on 01/16/2017 2:29:07 PM PST by SkyDancer (Ambition Without Talent Is Sad, Talent Without Ambition Is Worse)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-130 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson