Statement from Senator Jeanie Riddle Regarding Shutdown of Highway 61
JEFFERSON CITY — State Sen. Jeanie Riddle, R-Callaway County, issued the following statement regarding the shutdown of Highway 61, south of Highway 47 in Troy, Missouri on June 30.
“While I appreciate and support an individual’s right to voice their opinion, I believe the actions taken by protestors were highly dangerous,” stated Sen. Riddle. “By blocking one of our community’s major highways, the protestors not only endangered themselves, but also every family driving on that roadway. Fortunately, no one was injured during the protest, and I am incredibly thankful for the actions of law enforcement to ensure everyone’s safety by removing the protestors from the highway as quickly as possible. These reckless actions, endangering the safety of others, only underscores the need to increase the penalties associated with illegally blocking one of our state’s high-speed, multiple lane highways.”
Senator Riddle sponsored legislation during the 2018 legislative session that would have increased penalties for those who illegally block traffic on one of Missouri’s limited access highways or interstates. Under the proposal, anyone who illegally blocks traffic on one of the state’s limited access highways or interstates would be guiltily of a class A misdemeanor and be subject to increased penalties. Unfortunately, Senate Bill 813 was not passed during the 2018 legislative session. Senator Riddle plans to continue working on legislation to address this growing problem during the next legislative session.