S. 4602 — Introduced in Senate

II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4602 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 16, 2020Mr. Kennedy (for himself, Mr. Tillis, Mrs. Blackburn, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Cramer, and Mr. Rubio) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To prohibit the obstruction of emergency vehicles. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Blocking Hospitals Act. 2. Obstruction of an emergency vehicle (a) Prohibition Chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code is amended by adding at the end the following: 40C. Obstruction of an emergency vehicle (a) Offense It shall be unlawful for any person, using a channel, facility, or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce or otherwise affecting interstate or foreign commerce, to knowingly obstruct, delay, or prevent— (1) any ambulance or emergency vehicle from responding to a call or transporting an individual to a hospital; (2) any vehicle used by a fire department, or any officer or member of a fire department, from responding to a call or transporting an individual to a hospital; or (3) any vehicle used by a State or local law enforcement agency, or any officer of the State or local law enforcement agency, from responding to a call or transporting an individual to a hospital. (b) Penalty Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not less than 1 year nor more than 5 years, or both. . (b) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 40B the following: 40C. Obstruction of an emergency vehicle. .