Sponsors (2)
The bill strengthens federal authority to protect interstate commerce and help clear roadway blockages, but does so by expanding federal criminal penalties for road-blocking protests—raising civil liberties concerns, legal uncertainty for enforcement, and potential taxpayer costs.
Drivers, businesses, shippers, and transportation workers will face fewer disruptions to interstate commerce because blocking public roads that impede commerce is made a federal crime with penalties up to 5 years.
Local and state officials and law enforcement may receive stronger federal support to clear major roadway blockages that halt interstate commerce, improving the ability to restore traffic quickly.
People who stage road-blocking protests will face federal criminal charges, fines, and up to 5 years in prison—subjecting formerly state-prosecuted conduct to federal penalties and raising risks to free expression for protesters.
The bill narrows statutory language (removing references to 'threats of violence'), which could limit charging options or alter surveillance/authorization authorities in related federal statutes and create uncertainty for prosecutors and federal employees.
Federalizing many road-blocking cases could increase Department of Justice caseloads and prosecution costs, potentially raising taxpayer-funded criminal justice expenditures.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Makes it a federal crime to intentionally block a public road or highway in a way that obstructs commerce or movement of goods, punishable by fine or up to 5 years imprisonment.
Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to establish a criminal penalty for interfering with commerce by blocking public roads.
Introduced June 13, 2025 by David Rouzer · Last progress June 13, 2025
Creates a new federal crime making it unlawful to intentionally obstruct, delay, or affect commerce or the movement of goods by blocking a public road or highway; attempts and conspiracies are also criminalized. Violations carry a fine, up to 5 years imprisonment, or both. The bill also updates cross‑references in existing federal statutes to remove some phrase-based references to threats or violence to conform with the new text.