Road Blockades Now a Federal Felony: New Act Imposes 5-Year Prison Sentence for Obstructing Commerce

The “Safe and Open Streets Act” creates a significant new federal crime, and if you’re someone who ever thought about using a public road to make a statement, you need to pay attention. This bill makes it a federal offense to purposely block a public road or highway if that action “obstructs, delays, or affects commerce.” Violators face up to five years in federal prison, a hefty fine, or both. Basically, the federal government is stepping in to ensure the asphalt stays clear for business, and they’re bringing serious consequences to back it up.

The Federalization of Traffic Jams

What’s happening here is the federal government is taking an action that used to be a local issue—like a misdemeanor charge for disorderly conduct or traffic obstruction—and elevating it to a federal felony. The core of the change is in Section 2, which amends Title 18, Section 1951 of the U.S. Code. This section is usually about things like robbery and extortion, but the new language makes blocking a road that affects commerce an offense under this powerful federal law. The key phrase is “affects commerce.” Since almost every road eventually connects to the flow of goods and services, this is a very broad net. If you shut down a major artery, say, outside a port or a factory, you are definitely affecting commerce.

Removing the Safety Net: No Threats or Violence Required

Crucially, this bill removes a significant requirement from the existing federal law it amends. Previously, to be charged under this section for interfering with commerce, the action had to involve “threats or violence.” This new provision specifically targeting road blockages removes that requirement. That’s a huge shift. It means a group of non-violent protesters sitting down in the street, or even a slow-moving convoy, could now be hit with a five-year federal felony charge, even if no one was threatened or physically harmed. For regular people, this means the penalty for a non-violent act of civil disobedience just went from a potential slap on the wrist to a life-altering federal conviction.

Who This Helps and Who It Hurts

On one hand, this bill is a clear win for the logistics and freight industries. If you run a trucking company or manage a major supply chain, the promise of swift, severe federal penalties for anyone who halts your operations is a huge benefit. This is about ensuring that goods—from Amazon packages to essential medical supplies—keep moving without delay. This is the “open streets” part of the Act.

On the other hand, this bill creates a massive chilling effect on public assembly and protest. The potential impact is highest for people involved in civil disobedience. Imagine a local union staging a sit-in to block access to a facility during a labor dispute, or climate activists blocking a highway entrance to raise awareness. These actions, which are often non-violent but intentionally disruptive, now carry the weight of a federal felony and up to five years in prison. This is a disproportionate penalty for a non-violent act, and it gives federal prosecutors a potent tool to shut down protests that inconvenience commercial interests.