Georgia Senate passes bill to increase protest fines

Ty Tagami

Capitol Beat News Service

ATLANTA — The Georgia Senate adopted legislation Tuesday that would increase the fine for protesting in the streets.

Senate Bill 443 started as a measure that would have allowed felony charges against protesters who block roads.

But the author, Sen. Carden Summers, R-Cordele, agreed to amendments that reduced the significantly enhanced criminal charge he had proposed. Currently, the offense is a misdemeanor, but SB 443 would increase that to a high and aggravated misdemeanor.

Both could net the perpetrator up to a year in jail. But the maximum fine for a high and aggravated misdemeanor is $5,000, while the maximum fine for a misdemeanor is $1,000.

Summers said protesters who block roads are preventing the passage of ambulances, firetrucks, and parents trying to get to their child’s school.

'It is a simple common-sense bill,' he said. 'It is something that parents should have taught people a long time ago: Don’t block the streets.'

The measure passed 35-17 and now goes to the House.