INDIANA—A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction against a 2023 Indiana law that criminalizes individuals from approaching within 25 feet of an on-duty police officer after being instructed to stop. The law, known as HEA 1186, was designed to protect law enforcement personnel but has faced significant legal challenges.
Judge James Sweeney ruled that the statute is unconstitutionally vague, stating it permits police to order individuals to back away for arbitrary reasons. “Simply being within 25 feet of a police officer is not a crime,” Sweeney noted. He emphasized that vital First Amendment rights are often exercised within this proximity to law enforcement, asserting that the law fails to specify any particular behavior that would justify police orders to move back.
The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed last year by a coalition of media organizations, including local newspapers and television stations in Indianapolis. The coalition argued that the law impedes journalists’ ability to report on police activities and restricts public interaction with officers.
In his decision, Sweeney criticized the notion that law enforcement could operate with a “25-foot forcefield” around them, reinforcing the importance of public accountability and the right to free expression.
The state has yet to respond to the judge’s ruling as the case unfolds. The temporary halt of HEA 1186 reflects ongoing tensions between law enforcement practices and civil liberties in Indiana and beyond.
