It could become a crime to taunt a police officer in Kentucky, under a bill that passed the state Senate on Thursday.
The bill passed the Republican-dominated Senate 22-11 and now awaits House input, CBS reports.
Kentucky Senate Passes Bill That Could Criminalize Taunting Officers
Under the legislation, anyone who "accosts, insults, taunts, or challenges a law enforcement officer with offensive or derisive words, or by gestures or other physical contact, that would have a direct tendency to provoke a violent response" would be guilty of a misdemeanor and face up to 90 days in jail and fines.
March 12, 2021
Under the legislation, anyone who "accosts, insults, taunts, or challenges a law enforcement officer with offensive or derisive words, or by gestures or other physical contact, that would have a direct tendency to provoke a violent response" would be guilty of a misdemeanor and face up to 90 days in jail and fines.
The proposal also increases penalties for rioting. For instance, those charged with rioting would be required to be held for a minimum of 48 hours. Another provision would criminalize aiming "a light, a laser pointer, an activated horn or other noise-making device towards the head" of a first responder.
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