HB 1802
In CommitteeHouse
Obstructing first responder
Prohibiting obstructing a law enforcement officer or other first responder.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill makes it a crime to intentionally interfere with law enforcement officers or first responders while they are on duty, including by approaching them too closely after being told not to. It expands protections to a broader range of emergency personnel and clarifies when someone is considered to be obstructing official duties.
- Makes it a gross misdemeanor to willfully hinder, delay, or obstruct a law enforcement officer or first responder while they are performing official duties.
- Adds a new offense: knowingly and willfully approaching or remaining within 25 feet of an on-duty officer or first responder after being told not to—if the person intends to impede, threaten, or harass them.
- Expands the definition of 'first responder' to include emergency dispatchers, coroners, medical examiners, and Washington National Guard members in emergency response roles.
- Clarifies that intervening to protect an officer or first responder in imminent danger is not considered obstruction.
- Amends existing law (RCW 9A.76.020) to clarify that 'obstructing' includes both physical interference and certain types of proximity-based interference after a warning.
Who is affected
- First responders — First responders (e.g., firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers, coroners, and National Guard members in emergency roles) gain legal protection against intentional interference while on duty.
- Law enforcement officers — Law enforcement officers (including local, state, federal, and code enforcement personnel) gain clearer legal protection against being hindered or threatened while performing duties.
- Individuals attempting to interfere with emergency personnel — People who intentionally approach or remain within 25 feet of an on-duty first responder after being told not to, especially if they intend to interfere, threaten, or harass, could face criminal charges.
- Good Samaritans or intervenors aiding first responders — Bystanders or advocates who intervene to protect an officer or first responder in imminent danger are explicitly protected from being charged under this law.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (2)
Explicitly protecting Good Samaritans who intervene to protect officers or first responders in imminent danger reinforces community safety and encourages bystander assistance without fear of misapplication of obstruction laws.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)Expanding the definition of 'first responder' to include dispatchers, coroners, medical examiners, and Washington National Guard members in emergency roles ensures broader legal protections for essential personnel who often face high-stress, high-risk situations but have historically received less statutory protection.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(a)
Potential Concerns (3)
The 25-foot proximity restriction, while intended to protect personnel, creates ambiguity about what constitutes “intent to impede, threaten, or harass,” potentially leading to inconsistent enforcement and arbitrary arrests—especially for individuals expressing protest or advocacy near emergency scenes without clear malicious intent.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1(1)(b)Elevating obstruction to a gross misdemeanor increases the criminalization of behavior that may include nonviolent protest or distress response, disproportionately affecting low-income and marginalized individuals who are more likely to be monitored, arrested, and incarcerated for such offenses.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4)The bill may increase local government costs for prosecution, court processing, and potential incarceration of gross misdemeanors, diverting limited public safety resources from crime prevention and community-based services that benefit everyday residents.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Fiscal Impact section (not in bill text but referenced in summary)
Who Is Most Affected
First responders gain stronger legal protections against intentional interference, especially those in non-traditional roles (e.g., dispatchers, coroners), reducing perceived and actual risks while on duty and potentially improving morale and retention.
Law enforcement officers gain clearer legal authority to define and respond to proximity-based interference, but may face increased administrative burden in documenting warnings and intent, and risk over-policing of protest activity.
Protesters, advocates, and individuals in crisis (e.g., family members of victims at emergency scenes) may be at higher risk of arrest for behavior that appears threatening but lacks criminal intent—especially if they are unaware of the 25-foot rule or unable to comply under emotional duress.
Good Samaritans and community members who intervene to protect first responders gain explicit legal immunity from obstruction charges, reinforcing civic responsibility and reducing hesitation to assist in emergencies.
Local governments may face increased budgetary pressure from prosecuting gross misdemeanors, but also benefit from enhanced officer safety and reduced liability exposure in high-risk scenarios.