Offenses Against Public Order; the disruption of a religious service; prohibit

New penalties for disrupting worship or funerals

Georgia law protects religious services, funerals, and memorial services by making intentional disorderly or disruptive conduct a misdemeanor. Religious services include public gatherings for worship, religious observance, or another religious purpose. The ban covers interference with services or normal activities at their locations. Specified acts are covered within 500 feet, from one hour before through one hour after the posted service time. These include images conveying fighting words or actual or imminent threats against people or property connected to the service. They also include disruptive loud, threatening, or abusive speech or vocal noise, amplified or not; blocking or attempting to block pedestrian or vehicle access; and public gatherings, parades, demonstrations, or similar events. The conduct must be intended to interfere with the service or activities at its location. Violations at funerals or memorial services for people receiving military funeral honors are aggravated misdemeanors.