By Sarah Roebuck
Police1
INDIANAPOLIS — Sometimes when a police officer or firefighter asks a bystander to “stay back,” it can be left up to one’s interpretation. Soon, there will be no question as a new law in Indiana sets a minimum to how far people will have to stay away from an active scene.
House Bill 1186, which was signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb, now sets a minimum bystander distance of 25 feet, The Times of Northwest Indiana reported.
If police officers and firefighters do not feel the need to keep bystanders at a 25-foot distance, first responders are not obligated to do so, the bill states.
The new law specifies that the “emergency incident area” may include an area 25 feet in all directions from the perimeter of an emergency incident area, such as a fire or car crash.
According to the law, if a person knowingly or intentionally approaches within 25 feet of a law enforcement officer after the officer has ordered the person to stop, that person can be arrested and charged with a Class C misdemeanor.