Sec. 10-172. Obstructing a peace officer, firefighter, emergency medical services provider, rescue specialist or volunteer.
(a)
(1) It is unlawful for any person, by using or threatening to use violence, force or physical interference or an obstacle, to knowingly obstruct, impair or hinder the enforcement of the penal law or the preservation of the peace by a peace officer, acting under color of his or her official authority; knowingly obstruct, impair or hinder the prevention, control or abatement of a fire by a firefighter, acting under color of his or her official authority; knowingly obstruct, impair or hinder the administration of medical treatment or emergency assistance by an emergency medical service provider or rescue specialist, acting under color of his or her official authority; or knowingly obstruct, impair or hinder the administration of emergency care or emergency assistance by a volunteer, acting in good faith to render such care or assistance without compensation at the place of an emergency or accident.
(2) To assure that animals used in law enforcement or fire prevention activities are protected from harm, a person commits obstructing a peace officer or firefighter when, by using or threatening to use violence, force, physical interference or an obstacle, he or she knowingly obstructs, impairs or hinders any such animal.
(b) It is no defense to a prosecution under this Section that the peace officer was acting in an illegal manner, if he or she was acting under color of his or her official authority, as defined in Subsection 10-171(b) above.
(c) For purposes of this Section, unless the context otherwise requires:
Emergency medical service provider means a member of a public or private emergency medical service agency, whether that person is a volunteer or receives compensation for services rendered as such emergency medical service provider.
Rescue specialist means a member of a public or private rescue agency, whether that person is a volunteer or receives compensation for services rendered as such rescue specialist.
(d) If a person is alleged to have committed the offense described in Subsection (a) of this Section by using or threatening to use an unmanned aircraft system as an obstacle, the offense does not apply if the person who operated the unmanned aircraft system:
(1) Obtained permission to operate the unmanned aircraft from a law enforcement agency or other entity that is coordinating the response of peace officers, firefighters, emergency medical service providers, rescue specialists, or volunteers to an emergency or accident;
(2) Continues to communicate with such entity during the operation of the unmanned aircraft system; and
(3) Complies immediately with any instruction from the entity concerning the operation of the unmanned aircraft system. (Ord. 1002 § 26, 2009; Ord. 1329 §1, 2019)