Indiana criminal charge
Obstruction of traffic in Indiana
Obstruction of traffic is a criminal offense under Indiana law, defined by Ind. Code § 35-44.1-2-13. Its classification is not fixed: Indiana assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Ind. Code § 35-44.1-2-13.
What is the penalty for obstruction of traffic in Indiana?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 180 days (Basic obstruction of traffic — A person, with intent to obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic, obstructs such traffic, unless subsection (b) applies.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-3-3 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Basic obstruction of traffic — A person, with intent to obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic, obstructs such traffic, unless subsection (b) applies.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-3-3 |
| Jail / prison | up to 1 year (Obstruction of traffic using a motor vehicle — The offense under subsection (a) includes the use of a motor vehicle.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Obstruction of traffic using a motor vehicle — The offense under subsection (a) includes the use of a motor vehicle.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2 |
| Jail / prison | 6 months to 30 months (Obstruction resulting in serious bodily injury, blocking emergency vehicle, or blocking emergency medical facility entryway — The offense results in serious bodily injury, blocks an authorized emergency vehicle responding to an emergency, in pursuit, or responding to a fire alarm while using required signals, or obstructs the entryway to a facility providing emergency medical services.; fixed term; advisory sentence 1 year; court may enter judgment of conviction as a Class A misdemeanor in limited circumstances (IC 35-50-2-7(c))) | presumptive | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Obstruction resulting in serious bodily injury, blocking emergency vehicle, or blocking emergency medical facility entryway — The offense results in serious bodily injury, blocks an authorized emergency vehicle responding to an emergency, in pursuit, or responding to a fire alarm while using required signals, or obstructs the entryway to a facility providing emergency medical services.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 6 years (Obstruction resulting in catastrophic bodily injury or death — The offense results in catastrophic bodily injury or death.; fixed term; advisory sentence 3 years) | presumptive | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-6 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Obstruction resulting in catastrophic bodily injury or death — The offense results in catastrophic bodily injury or death.) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-6 |
| Fine | up to $500 (Unreasonable obstruction of traffic — A person unreasonably obstructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic.; civil judgment, not a criminal conviction (IC 34-28-5); no jail; IC 34-28-5-4(f) exceptions may set a different amount) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 34-28-5-4 |
Applies to current.
How is obstruction of traffic classified in Indiana?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic obstruction of traffic | Class B Misdemeanor | A person, with intent to obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic, obstructs such traffic, unless subsection (b) applies. | Ind. Code § 35-44.1-2-13(a) |
| Obstruction of traffic using a motor vehicle | Class A Misdemeanor | The offense under subsection (a) includes the use of a motor vehicle. | Ind. Code § 35-44.1-2-13(b) |
| Obstruction resulting in serious bodily injury, blocking emergency vehicle, or blocking emergency medical facility entryway | Level 6 Felony | The offense results in serious bodily injury, blocks an authorized emergency vehicle responding to an emergency, in pursuit, or responding to a fire alarm while using required signals, or obstructs the entryway to a facility providing emergency medical services. | Ind. Code § 35-44.1-2-13(b) |
| Obstruction resulting in catastrophic bodily injury or death | Level 5 Felony | The offense results in catastrophic bodily injury or death. | Ind. Code § 35-44.1-2-13(b) |
| Unreasonable obstruction of traffic | Class C Infraction | A person unreasonably obstructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic. | Ind. Code § 35-44.1-2-13(c) |
Common questions about obstruction of traffic in Indiana
Is obstruction of traffic a felony or a misdemeanor in Indiana?
It depends on the circumstances: obstruction of traffic ranges from a Class C Infraction to a Level 5 Felony in Indiana under Ind. Code § 35-44.1-2-13.
Basic obstruction of traffic: Class B Misdemeanor (Ind. Code § 35-44.1-2-13(a)) · Obstruction of traffic using a motor vehicle: Class A Misdemeanor (Ind. Code § 35-44.1-2-13(b)) · Obstruction resulting in serious bodily injury, blocking emergency vehicle, or blocking emergency medical facility entryway: Level 6 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-44.1-2-13(b)) · Obstruction resulting in catastrophic bodily injury or death: Level 5 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-44.1-2-13(b)) · Unreasonable obstruction of traffic: Class C Infraction (Ind. Code § 35-44.1-2-13(c))
What are the penalties for obstruction of traffic in Indiana?
Penalties for obstruction of traffic in Indiana depend on how it is classified — from a Class C Infraction up to a Level 5 Felony — with the ranges set by Ind. Code § 35-50-3-3, Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2, Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7, Ind. Code § 35-50-2-6 and Ind. Code § 34-28-5-4; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Indiana statute covers obstruction of traffic?
Obstruction of traffic is governed by Ind. Code § 35-44.1-2-13 (Obstruction of traffic).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.