Rogersville Missouri's anti-harassment ordinance protects people who walk, bicycle, and wheel
Officials in Rogersville, near Springfield in southwest Missouri, recently contact us to let us know that the city passed an anti-harassment ordinance.
The ordinance, passed in July 2010, is one of the first to be passed in Missouri.
Rogersville City Attorney Jason Krebs wrote:
Rogersville is a major cycling hub in the Springfield and Southwest Missouri area. It is a destination for many cyclists. Mayor Jack Cole and Aldermen Jon Hill, Dale Reaves, Terry Thompson and Leon Roderick and the City staff all strongly support the protection of wheel chair users, cyclists and pedestrians and recognize their positive impact on the community and economy.
"These things are community assets--having safe places to bicycle is one of the things that attracts people to live in this area," said Krebs. "Our city leaders really see the value in that."
Missouri now has eight cities that have adopted anti-harassment ordinances, covering over 1.15 million Missourians. Anti-harassment ordinances have been passed in large, medium, and small cities and in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Freedom from harassment is a value that all Missourians, in all types of communities, value.
When MoBikeFed surveys our members and supporters, we find that anti-harassment rises to the top of the priority list every time. That is why we so strongly support anti-harassment ordinances at the city, county, and statewide levels.
We encourage all cities and counties across Missouri to pass an anti-harassment law. You can find the resources you need to do this, including sample legislation from many communities, on our Anti-Harassment page.
What does Rogersville's law do?
The Rogersville ordinance provides for penalties for any who harasses or endangers a person who is bicycling, walking, running, or operating a wheelchair. Specifically, the ordinance bans:
- Throwing an object
- Threatening for the purpose of frightening or disturbing
- Honking a horn, shouting, or otherwise making noise to frighten or disturb
- Endangering or creating a risk of death or physical injury
When roadway users take any of these actions towards people who are walking, running, bicycling, or operating a wheelchair on our roads, sidewalks, and trails, it creates a dangerous and intimidating environment. The right of citizens to feel safe as though go about their daily business on the public streets and ways is one of the most important and highly valued.
The details of Rogersville's anti-harassment law
The text of Rogersville's ordinance reads:
Section 385.055. Harassment of a Bicyclist, Pedestrian or Person in a Wheelchair. [Ord. No. 691, 75 2010]
A. A person commits the offense of harassment of a bicyclist, pedestrian or person in a wheelchair if the person:1. Knowingly throws an object at or in the direction of any person riding a bicycle, walking, running or operating a wheelchair for the purpose of frightening, disturbing or injuring that person; or
2. Threatens any person riding a bicycle, walking, running or operating a wheelchair for the purpose of frightening or disturbing that person; or
3. Sounds a horn, shouts or otherwise directs sound toward any person riding a bicycle, walking, running or operating a wheelchair for the purpose of frightening or disturbing that person; or
4. Knowingly places a person riding a bicycle, walking, running or operating a wheelchair in apprehension of immediate physical injury; or
5. Knowingly engages in conduct that creates a risk of death or serious physical injury to a person riding a bicycle, walking, running or operating a wheelchair.B. Harassment of a bicyclist, pedestrian or person in a wheelchair is a Class A misdemeanor.
Improving safety for all road users is one of the top goals of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri. Support laws that ban harassment of people who walk and bicycle is an important part of that effort, and a priority that has been rated very highly by our members and supporters.
Your ongoing membership and generous financial support helps turn our Vision into reality!
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