Oklahoma § 21-540D - Interfering or threatening first responders

§ 21-540D. Interfering or threatening first responders

A. As used in this section:

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 21. Crimes and Punishments

1. "First responder" shall include a peace officer as defined

in Section 99 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, a correctional

or probation and parole officer, and an emergency medical technician

or emergency medical care provider; and

2. "Harass" means to willfully engage in a course of conduct

directed at a first responder which intentionally distracts the

first responder from performing his or her official duties and

serves no legitimate purpose.

B. It shall be unlawful for a person, after receiving a verbal

warning not to approach from a person he or she knows or reasonably

should know is a first responder, who is engaged in the lawful

performance of a legal duty, to knowingly and willfully violate such

warning and approach or remain within twenty-five (25) feet of the

first responder with the intent to:

1. Impede or interfere with the ability of the first responder

to perform such duty;

2. Threaten the first responder with physical harm; or

3. Harass the first responder.

C. Any person who violates the provisions of this section

shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by

imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed one (1)

year, or by a fine not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00),

or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Added by Laws 2025, c. 221, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2025.