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HB 4142

CRIM CD-IMPEDE PEACE OFFICER

104th Regular Session Introduced by Jeff Keicher and 1 co-sponsor

Illinois HB 4142 establishes or modifies criminal penalties for obstructing or impeding peace officers, currently in Rules Committee review.

Referred to Rules Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 4142

Legislative bill overview

HB 4142 creates or modifies criminal penalties related to impeding or obstructing peace officers in Illinois. The bill was introduced in the Illinois House of Representatives and is currently in the Rules Committee following its first reading. Specific statutory language would determine whether this expands existing obstruction laws, increases penalties, or refines definitions of prohibited conduct.

Why is this important

Criminal obstruction statutes directly affect police enforcement authority and individual rights during law enforcement interactions. Changes to these laws influence both officer safety protocols and civilian protections against potential overreach, making this relevant to criminal justice policy broadly.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition scope: Whether "impeding" is narrowly defined (physical interference only) or broadly interpreted (verbal non-compliance, recording officers, etc.), which affects how the law applies in practice
  • Penalty levels: Whether penalties are proportionate to the conduct or create harsh consequences that civil rights advocates view as excessive
  • Interaction with existing law: How this relates to current Illinois obstruction statutes and whether it creates redundancy, gaps, or conflicting standards

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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