§ 5-71-230. Violation of the protection of peace for mourning at a funeral

(a) As used in this section:

1. (1)

   1. (A) “Funeral” means a ceremony or memorial service held in connection with the burial or cremation of a person who has died in which the family of the deceased has a personal stake in memorializing and honoring the deceased and the desire to be able to mourn in peace during the ceremony or memorial service.

   2. (B) “Funeral” does not include a procession related to the funeral; and

2. (2) “Picket” means to engage in the activity of protesting or demonstrating to target a funeral without authorization from the family of the deceased.

(b) A person commits the offense of violation of the protection of peace for mourning at a funeral if the person:

1. (1) Knowingly pickets a funeral;

2. (2) Has a purpose to interfere with the funeral; and

3. (3) Pickets:

   1. (A) Within three hundred feet (300′) of any ingress or egress of the funeral; and

   2. (B) Either:

      1. (i) During the funeral;

      2. (ii) Within thirty (30) minutes immediately before the scheduled commencement of the funeral; or

      3. (iii) Within thirty (30) minutes immediately following the completion of the funeral.

(c)

1. (1) Violation of the protection of the peace for mourning at a funeral is a Class C misdemeanor.

2. (2) A person commits a separate offense for each funeral that the person pickets in violation of this section.