Obstruction of certain public places

HB 71, alongside its companion bill SB 74, would add a new crime for the "obstruction of public places." One would commit this new crime if one knowingly “obstructs or blocks a public place” by any means or knowingly “causes or allows a substance to drop” on a public place that creates a substantial risk of physical injury to another person. The legislation additionally provides for broad, automatic civil liability for "obstructing free passage in public places." A person would be liable to another person for obstructing a public place in violation of the new proposed crime.