COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR ORDINANCE NO. 220387

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Amending Chapter 50, Code of Ordinances, by repealing Section 50-44, Obstructing or resisting public safety officer, employee or inspector, and amending Chapter 70, Code of Ordinances, by repealing Section 70-73, Obedience to authorized persons directing traffic, and enacting in lieu thereof new sections of like number and subject matter.

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WHEREAS, to clarify the culpable mental state needed to prove a violation of Section 50-44; and to exempt from a violation under such section any person witnessing or documenting the actions of a public safety officer, employee or inspector, so long as they do not "substantially and physically" hinder official duties being performed; and

WHEREAS, to clarify in Section 70-73 that merely witnessing or documenting an officer in the performance of their official duties shall not be a violation unless such act substantially and physically impedes "any" officer from official duties; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. That Chapter 50, Code of Ordinances of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, is hereby amended by repealing Section 50-44, Obstructing or resisting public safety officer, employee or inspector, and enacting in lieu thereof one new section of like number and subject matter, to read as follows:

Sec. 50-44. Obstructing or resisting public safety officer, employee or inspector.

(a) Any person who shall in any way or manner purposely hinder, obstruct, molest, resist or otherwise interfere with any city public safety officer, employee or inspector, including, but not limited to, any firefighter or other fire suppression employee, fire prevention inspector, emergency medical service provider, paramedic, health inspector, building code inspector, zoning inspector, property maintenance or nuisances code inspector, illegal dumping inspector, regulated industries investigator or animal control off...

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