Interference with a first responder, offense of - penalties - definitions.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 574.207
in effect574.207. Interference with a first responder, offense of — penalties — definitions. — 1. A person commits the offense of interference with a first responder if:
(1) The person has received a verbal warning not to approach from a person that he or she knows or reasonably should know to be a first responder;
(2) The first responder is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty; and
(3) The person knowingly and willfully violates the verbal warning and approaches within twenty feet of the first responder with the intent to:
(a) Impede or interfere with the first responder's ability to perform his or her legal duty;
(b) Threaten the first responder with physical harm; or
(c) Engage in a course of conduct directed at a first responder which serves no legitimate purpose.
2. The offense of interference with a first responder is a class B misdemeanor for a first offense and a class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense.
3. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
(1) "Advanced emergency medical technician" , the same meaning as such term is defined in section 190.100 ;
(2) "Emergency medical technician" , the same meaning as such term is defined in section 190.100 ;
(3) "Firefighter" , any officer or employee of a fire department or fire protection district who is employed for the purpose of fighting fires, but does not include anyone employed in a clerical or other capacity not involving fire-fighting duties;
(4) "First responder" , any law enforcement officer, firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, or advanced emergency medical technician;
(5) "Paramedic" , the same meaning as such term is defined in section 190.100 .
4. This section shall have no impact on an individual's first amendment rights, and shall not restrict the ability to observe or record first responders.
(L. 2025 H.B. 225)
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=574.207Fetched: 10/17/2026