Obstructing or hindering firefighters

(a) As used in this Code section, the term ‘‘firefighter’’ means: (1) Any person who is employed as a professional firefighter on a full-time basis for at least 40 hours per week by any county, municipal, or state fire department when such person has responsibility for preventing and suppressing fires, protecting life and property, enforcing municipal, county, or state fire prevention codes, or enforcing any law or ordinance pertaining to the prevention or control of fires; (2) Any volunteer firefighter as the term ‘‘volunteer firefighter’’ is defined by paragraph (7) of Code Section 47-7-1 as said paragraph (7) exists on January 1, 1988; or (3) Any person employed as a professional firefighter on a full-time basis for at least 40 hours per week by a person or corporation which has a contract with a municipality or county to provide fire prevention and fire-fighting services for such municipality or county when such person has responsibility for preventing and suppressing fires, protecting life and property, enforcing municipal or county fire prevention codes, or enforcing any municipal or county ordinances pertaining to the prevention and control of fires. (b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, a person who knowingly and willfully obstructs or hinders any firefighter in the lawful discharge of the firefighter’s official duties is guilty of a misdemeanor. (c) Whoever knowingly and willfully resists, obstructs, or opposes any firefighter in the lawful discharge of the firefighter’s official duties by offering or doing violence to the person of such firefighter is guilty of a felony and shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years. (Code 1981, § 16-10-24.1, enacted by Ga. L. 1988, p. 301, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 755, § 1; Ga. L. 2002, p. 660, § 4; Ga. L. 2002, p. 1259, § 11.) 668 16-10-24.2 OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 16-10-24.2 16-10-24.2. Obstructing or hindering emergency medical technicians or emergency medical professionals; criminal penalty. (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) ‘‘Emergency medical professional’’ means any person performing emergency medical services who is licensed or certified to provide health care in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 11, Chapter 26, or Chapter 34 of Title 43. (2) ‘‘Emergency medical technician’’ means any person who has been certified as an emergency medical technician, cardiac technician, paramedic, or first responder pursuant to Chapter 11 of Title 31. (b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, a person who knowingly and willfully obstructs or hinders any emergency medical technician, any emergency medical professional, or any properly identified person working under the direction of an emergency medical professional in the lawful discharge of the official duties of such emergency medical technician, emergency medical professional, or properly identified person working under the direction of an emergency medical professional is guilty of a misdemeanor. (c) Whoever knowingly and willfully resists or obstructs any emergency medical technician, any emergency medical professional, or any properly identified person working under the direction of an emergency medical professional in the lawful discharge of the official duties of the emergency medical technician, emergency medical professional, or properly identified person working under the direction of an emergency medical professional by threatening or doing violence to the person of such emergency medical technician, emergency medical professional, or properly identified person working under the direction of an emergency medical professional is guilty of a felony and shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years. (Code 1981, § 16-10-24.2, enacted by Ga. L. 1994, p. 331, § 1; Ga. L. 1996, p. 835, § 1; Ga. L. 1999, p. 81, § 16.)