1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Stop Blocking Hospitals Act”.
Stop Blocking Hospitals Act
A BILL
To prohibit the obstruction of emergency vehicles.
2. Obstruction of an emergency vehicle
Prohibition— Chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code is amended by adding at the end the following:
“40C. Obstruction of an emergency vehicle
“(a) Offense—It shall be unlawful for any person, using a channel, facility, or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce or otherwise affecting interstate or foreign commerce, to knowingly obstruct, delay, or prevent—
“(1) any ambulance or emergency vehicle from responding to a call or transporting an individual to a hospital;
“(2) any vehicle used by a fire department, or any officer or member of a fire department, from responding to a call or transporting an individual to a hospital; or
“(3) any vehicle used by a State or local law enforcement agency, or any officer of the State or local law enforcement agency, from responding to a call or transporting an individual to a hospital.
“(b) Penalty—Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not less than 1 year nor more than 5 years, or both.”
Technical and conforming amendment— The table of sections for chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 40B the following: