Places of religious worship: unlawful activities

The law protects unimpeded access to religious worship while restricting close-range leafleting, signs, protest, education, harassment, obstruction, threats, and intimidation near entrances and exits.

What the law does ​

• Bars intentionally approaching within 8 feet, without consent, a person entering or leaving a place of worship when within 100 feet of its entrance or exit, for specified speech or conduct.
• Prohibits close-range leafleting, displaying signs, oral protest or education, harassment, obstruction, threats, and intimidation.
• Covers buildings, structures, or spaces primarily used for worship or religious education, including certain parking lots and driveways.
• Makes a first violation a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both; later violations can bring up to $5,000, up to one year in county jail, or both.

Who it affects ​

• People seeking to enter or leave places of religious worship, including occupants of vehicles entering or leaving covered parking lots.
• Protesters, advocates, leafleters, and others engaging people near worship-site entrances or exits.