Hallsville Interference with a First Responder ordinance (§ 210.780)

A. A person commits the offense of interference with a first responder if:

1. The person has received a verbal warning not to approach from a person that he or she knows or reasonably should know to be a first responder;

2. The first responder is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty; and

3. The person knowingly and willfully violates the verbal warning and approaches within twenty (20) feet of the first responder with the intent to:

a. Impede or interfere with the first responder's ability to perform his or her legal duty;

b. Threaten the first responder with physical harm;

c. Engage in a course of conduct directed at a first responder which serves no legitimate purpose.

B. As used in this Section, the following terms mean:

ADVANCED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (AEMT): A person who has successfully completed a course of instruction in certain aspects of advanced life support care as prescribed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and is licensed by the Department in accordance with Sections 190.001 to 190.245, RSMo., and rules and regulations adopted by the Department pursuant to Sections 190.001 to 190.245, RSMo.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN: A person licensed in emergency medical care in accordance with standards prescribed by Sections 190.001 to 190.245, RSMo., and by rules adopted by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services pursuant to Sections 190.001 to 190.245, RSMo.

FIREFIGHTER: Any officer or employee of a Fire Department or Fire Protection District who is employed for the purpose of fighting fires, but does not include anyone employed in a clerical or other capacity not involving fire-fighting duties.

FIRST RESPONDER: Any Law Enforcement Officer, firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, or advanced emergency medical technician.

PARAMEDIC: A person who has successfully completed a course of instruction in advanced life support care as prescribed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and is licensed by the Department in accordance with Sections 190.001 to 190.245, RSMo., and rules adopted by the Department pursuant to Sections 190.001 to 190.245, RSMo.

C. This Section shall have no impact on an individual's first amendment rights, and shall not restrict the ability to observe or record first responders.