A state lawmaker is introducing legislation that would allow for charges to be filed against anyone who would direct a law enforcement officer to ignore a state law.
Republican Representative Tim Bonner of the 8th District, which includes parts of Butler and Mercer Counties, says many public officials have been directing law enforcement in their communities to not enforce state laws about traffic offenses or marijuana possession.
The proposed law would make anyone undertaking this kind of activity subject to a first degree misdemeanor. Prosecuting attorneys and law enforcement would be exempt from the law in cases where they may choose not to charge an individual with a crime or dismiss charges.
Bonner maintains that local officials do not have the authority to establish alternative penalties for violations of certain state laws that they do not agree with and he calls doing so “obstruction of justice”.
