Section 574.207

Title XXXVIII CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT; PEACE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS

Chapter 574

Effective - 28 Aug 2025, see footnote   

  574.207.  Interference with a first responder, offense of — penalties — definitions. — 1.  A person commits the offense of interference with a first responder if:

  (1)  The person has received a verbal warning not to approach from a person that he or she knows or reasonably should know to be a first responder;

  (2)  The first responder is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty; and

  (3)  The person knowingly and willfully violates the verbal warning and approaches within twenty feet of the first responder with the intent to:

  (a)  Impede or interfere with the first responder's ability to perform his or her legal duty;

  (b)  Threaten the first responder with physical harm; or

  (c)  Engage in a course of conduct directed at a first responder which serves no legitimate purpose.

  2.  The offense of interference with a first responder is a class B misdemeanor for a first offense and a class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense.

  3.  As used in this section, the following terms mean:

  (1)  "Advanced emergency medical technician", the same meaning as such term is defined in section 190.100;

  (2)  "Emergency medical technician", the same meaning as such term is defined in section 190.100;

  (3)  "Firefighter", any officer or employee of a fire department or fire protection district who is employed for the purpose of fighting fires, but does not include anyone employed in a clerical or other capacity not involving fire-fighting duties;

  (4)  "First responder", any law enforcement officer, firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, or advanced emergency medical technician;

  (5)  "Paramedic", the same meaning as such term is defined in section 190.100.

  4.  This section shall have no impact on an individual's first amendment rights, and shall not restrict the ability to observe or record first responders.

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(L. 2025 H.B. 225)