Establishes the crime of interference with emergency first responders; creates a fifteen foot buffer zone around emergency first responders engaged in the performance of their official duties.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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9974
IN SENATE
April 20, 2026
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Introduced by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to establishing a fifteen-
foot safety buffer zone around a New York state, New York city and
local municipal emergency first responder, a judge of any court of law
of this state, or a state, county or municipal prosecutor engaged in
the performance of their official duties
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 240.80 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 240.80 Interference with a New York state, New York city and local
4 municipal emergency first responder, a judge of any court of
5 law of this state, or a state, county or municipal prosecu-
6 tor; safety buffer zone.
7 1. A person is guilty of interference with a New York state, New York
8 city and local municipal emergency first responder, a judge of any court
9 of law of this state, or a state, county or municipal prosecutor when
10 such person:
11 (a) knowingly approaches or remains within the fifteen-foot safety
12 buffer zone surrounding a New York state, New York city or local munici-
13 pal emergency first responder, a judge of any court of law of this
14 state, or a state, county or municipal prosecutor engaged in the lawful
15 performance of official duties;
16 (b) has been given a verbal warning by such first responder, a judge
17 or prosecutor to remain outside of the safety buffer zone; and
18 (c) knowingly and willfully fails to comply with such warning and
19 remains within or approaches the safety buffer zone with intent to
20 impede, threaten, harass, or otherwise interfere with the performance of
21 such New York state, New York city and local municipal emergency first
22 responder's, judge's, or prosecutor's duties.
23 2. For the purposes of this section:
24 (a) "First responder" or "New York state, New York city, or local
25 municipal first responder" shall mean a police officer, peace officer,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15214-05-6
S. 9974 2
1 firefighter, emergency medical technician, paramedic, or other emergency
2 medical services provider engaged in the lawful performance of official
3 duties.
4 (b) "Safety buffer zone" shall mean an area within fifteen feet of a
5 New York state, New York city or local municipal emergency first respon-
6 der, a judge of any court of law of this state, or a state, county or
7 municipal prosecutor engaged in the lawful performance of such duties.
8 3. Nothing in this section shall be construed to:
9 (a) prohibit or restrict the lawful recording, photographing, or
10 observing of a New York state, New York city, or local municipal emer-
11 gency first responder, a judge of any court of law of this state, or a
12 state, county or municipal prosecutor, provided that such activity
13 occurs outside the fifteen-foot safety buffer zone and does not other-
14 wise interfere with official duties; or
15 (b) apply to a person seeking emergency assistance, providing aid, or
16 otherwise complying with lawful instructions from a New York state, New
17 York city or local municipal emergency first responder, a judge of any
18 court of law of this state, or a state, county or municipal prosecutor.
19 Interference with a New York state, New York city, or local municipal
20 emergency first responder, a judge of any court of law of this state, or
21 a state, county or municipal prosecutor is a class B misdemeanor.
22 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
23 have become a law.
