GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Michigan House of Representatives passed a bill this week that could make it a crime to hold protests on highways.

House Bill 4664 would make it so that anyone that participates in an assembly could be subject to a criminal misdemeanor that could become a 93-day jail sentence and a fine of up to $5,000, or possibly both. While the word protest is not in the bill, it could fall under the scope of an assembly.

While both highways and public streets are subject to pre-existing law, the newly-proposed criminal charge would apply solely to highways.

"When an assembly of people are purposely blocking a driver or drivers from proceeding getting to where they need to go, that's a problem," said State Rep. Alicia St. Germaine (R-Harrison Twp.), who sponsored the bill.

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