Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has signed legislation making it a crime to knowingly approach within 25 feet of a police officer while they are “engaged in law enforcement duties” after the officer has ordered the person to stay back.

Critics of a new Louisiana law, which makes it a crime to approach within 25 feet (7.6 meters) of a police officer under certain circumstances, fear that the measure could hinder the public’s ability to film officers — a tool that has increasingly been used to hold police accountable.

Under the law, anyone who is convicted of “knowingly or intentionally” approaching an officer, who is “lawfully engaged in the execution of his official duties,” and after being ordered to “stop approaching or retreat” faces up to a $500 fine, up to 60 days in jail or both. The law was signed by Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, Tuesday and goes into effect Aug. 1.

  • @[email protected]
    76•5 months ago

    This some fascist shit. Why is the government so obsessed with shielding cops from accountability?

    • @[email protected]
      49•5 months ago

      Police Unions and lobbyists. Police Unions are one of the few times unions aren’t necessarily a good thing.

    • @nyar
      16•5 months ago

      Because Republicans are fascists and Democrats are spineless.

      • @[email protected]English
        8•5 months ago

        Democrats aren’t spineless. they are operating in a world where republicans own the majority of the media and will repeat whatever they say. For example, The democrats lost a lot of local elections last cycle because republican media scared everyone into thinking crime rates were soaring even though they’re at all time lows. Republicans have gerrymandered so well that they have to be extremely careful or risk losing even in states where they have the majority of voters.

        Republicans have been playing a long game starting with Regan and they are in their end game now.