PIERRE, SD (KELO.COM) Governor Dennis Daugaard's preemptive strike against violent protests is now the law.
Daugaard Monday afternoon signed Senate Bill 176, which broadens the state's authority to handle large protests and to deal more effectively with protesters who break the law.
The new law allows the state to create public safety zones where no more than 20 protesters could gather on any one tract of state-controlled land. It's aimed at trying to avoid what happened in North Dakota with the thousands of people who jammed into one spot to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline.
“My administration brought this bill to protect those who want to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights, as well as the people who reside in and travel through our state,” said Daugaard. “Legislators on both sides of the aisle voted to support this bill and I appreciate their recognition of the urgency of this issue.”
SB 176 prohibits individuals from blocking highways and interfering with traffic, and allows the South Dakota Department of Transportation to temporarily establish no parking zones. The new law also gives the Chief Justice authority to temporarily license outside attorneys to assist counties with an increase in criminal cases.
The potential for future large protests in South Dakota is now high since the Trump Administration has given the green light to the Keystone XL Pipeline. The XL would bisect South Dakota, west of the Missouri River.
