Opinion: Georgia’s Plan to Make “Blocking Cops With Your Car” a Felony Is Overkill

Georgia’s Legislature is now debating House Bill 1076, a proposal that would turn intentionally obstructing law enforcement with a vehicle into a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a huge $100,000 fine. The sponsor and several Republican lawmakers say the change is needed to crack down on dangerous behavior during protests or “street takeover” events where vehicles have been used to hinder officers.

On the surface, it’s easy to nod along: anyone deliberately using a car to block officers is acting irresponsibly. But elevating every case to a felony — even when there’s no evidence of violence or clear intent to harm — feels like a rocket-launcher response to a problem that’s sometimes just reckless, not malicious.

Proponents argue that this sends a strong warning: interfering with law enforcement isn’t a light misdemeanor anymore. And right now, a simple obstruction charge might barely raise eyebrows. But we have to ask ourselves: do we really want to send people to prison for five years because they parked their car in front of an officer’s path, even if both sides back down before things escalate? The potential for broad interpretation should give us pause.

And then there’s the context: this bill comes amid heated national debates over policing, protests, and what constitutes lawful dissent. In Minneapolis, the tragic death of Renee Good — shot by an ICE agent who said her car was used to ram officers — still haunts the conversation.

The risk now is that Georgia’s legislature is using a sledgehammer to swat at a mosquito. There are legitimate safety concerns when cars are used recklessly around officers. But making it a felony without clear definitions of intent or context raises real civil liberties questions.

We deserve laws that protect public safety without unduly criminalizing people who may have acted out of fear, protest, or confusion rather than malice. As HB 1076 heads to committee, lawmakers should think hard about whether making this conduct a felony really serves justice — or simply serves headlines.