Michigan lawmakers are debating whether to make protesting in the street without a permit a criminal offense.

Blocking or impeding traffic is currently a civil infraction with a $100 fine, but some say that’s not enough to deter people, whether it’s for a protest or a party, and that law enforcement needs stronger tools to stop these assemblies.

That’s why Republican lawmakers in the state House have put forward legislation to address the issue . The new bill would make impeding or blocking traffic as part of an assembly a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

“We’ve seen individuals and groups shut down highways with little or no consequences, and it creates a significant risk to public safety,” Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said Wednesday, Aug. 2

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