G.S. 20-174.1. Standing, sitting or lying upon highways or streets prohibited; obstruction of emergency vehicles; civil liability

§ 20-174.1. Standing, sitting or lying upon highways or streets prohibited; obstruction of emergency vehicles; civil liability.

(a) A person who willfully stands, sits, or lies upon the highway or street in such a manner as to impede the regular flow of traffic is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

(b) Repealed by Session Laws 2024-16, s. 4(a), effective December 1, 2024, and applicable to offenses committed and causes of action arising on or after that date.

(c) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section while participating in a demonstration intended to prohibit or impede the use of the highway or street is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class H felony for a second or subsequent offense.

(d) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section and obstructs an emergency vehicle, as defined in G.S. 14-34.1A, from accessing the highway or street is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor.

(e) Any person who organizes a demonstration that prohibits or impedes the use of a highway or street is civilly liable for injury to or death of any person resulting from delays caused by the obstruction of an emergency vehicle in violation of subsection (d) of this section. An action may be brought under this subsection regardless of whether a criminal action is brought or a criminal conviction is obtained for the conduct alleged in the civil action. (1965, c. 137; 1969, c. 1012; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 761, s. 17; 2024-16, s. 4(a).)

Official text of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-174.1 as published by the North Carolina General Assembly (Chapter 20 PDF, retrieved November 10, 2026). Verify the current version on ncleg.gov ↗.