It is part of my daily routine to peruse the local Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park news sites to see what stories are making headlines. Sometimes I am provided with interesting blog topics exploring criminal charges and how they apply differently in different cases. Other times, I get a good laugh from the silliness of others and I get to share that with you. Today’s blog started with a good laugh – arrest after a prank. A man apparently thought it would be hilarious to take a chair and small table out into the middle of a crosswalk, settle himself in and enjoy a meal of pancakes. Yes, in the middle of the street. I personally don’t understand what’s funny about putting your life at risk, but hey, not my call. People obviously called to report the man and though he was gone when police arrived, pictures had been taken and were used to identify the man. He was arrested and charged with Obstructing a Highway or Other Passageway, a class 2 misdemeanor in Weld County, Colorado.
Weld County Obstructing a Road Lawyer: What is the Definition of Obstructing Highway or Other Passageway?
The Colorado law definition of Obstructing Highway or Other Passageway – C.R.S. 18-9-107 – is:
(a) Obstructs a highway, street, sidewalk, railway, waterway, building entrance, elevator, aisle, stairway, or hallway to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access or any other place used for the passage of persons, vehicles, or conveyances, whether the obstruction arises from his acts alone or from his acts and the acts of others; or
(b) Disobeys a reasonable request or order to move issued by a person the individual or corporation knows to be a peace officer, a firefighter, or a person with authority to control the use of the premises, to prevent obstruction of a highway or passageway or to maintain public safety by dispersing those gathered in dangerous proximity to a fire, riot, or other hazard.
(2) For purposes of this section, “obstruct” means to render impassable or to render passage unreasonably inconvenient or hazardous.
(3) An offense under this section is a class 3 misdemeanor; except that knowingly obstructing the entrance into, or exit from, a funeral or funeral site, or knowingly obstructing a highway or other passageway where a funeral procession is taking place is a class 2 misdemeanor.
Because the man made it inconvenient for cars to pass, as I’m sure they were forced to slow down at the site of a man sitting in the street enjoying a meal, he is facing this class 3 misdemeanor. In Weld, Morgan, and Logan County, a class 3 misdemeanor is punishable by up to 6 months in the Weld County Jail. What gets me, though, is that the man had moved on. Yes, it was dangerous- some might even say stupid- but it was over. Why people were so devoted to getting him caught and tagging him in the photos the police posted, just seems silly. In fact, I’m not sure why the police were posting the picture and looking for him in the first place. Seems like a giant waste of resources if you ask me. Maybe if he were a serial middle of the road prankster I would understand. But this just seems excessive to me.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Obstructing a Roadway in Greeley, Erie, or Evans, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent and contact the best Greeley traffic and criminal defense lawyers from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009 today. Together, we can protect your future.
Image Source: Pixabay-Tabeajaichhalt