{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "195.05", "citation": "Penal Law § 195.05", "heading": "Obstructing governmental administration in the second degree", "text": ["§ 195.05 Obstructing governmental administration in the second degree.", "A person is guilty of obstructing governmental administration when:", "1. Such person intentionally obstructs, impairs or perverts the administration of law or other governmental function or prevents or attempts to prevent a public servant from performing an official function, by means of intimidation, physical force or interference, or by means of any independently unlawful act, or by means of interfering, whether or not physical force is involved, with radio, telephone, television or other telecommunications systems owned or operated by the state, or a county, city, town, village, fire district or emergency medical service or by means of releasing a dangerous animal under circumstances evincing the actor's intent that the animal obstruct governmental administration; or", "2. With the intent to violate a closing order, order to seal, temporary closing order, or temporary order to seal issued by a governmental entity to address a public health or safety concern, such person damages or removes any padlock or other device installed for the purpose of effectuating such order.", "Obstructing governmental administration is a class A misdemeanor."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/195.05", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "A person commits second-degree obstructing governmental administration by:\n- **(1)** **intentionally obstructing, impairing, or perverting** the administration of law or another government function, or preventing or trying to prevent a public servant from performing an official function, by **intimidation, physical force or interference**, by any **independently unlawful act**, by interfering (with or without physical force) with radio, telephone, television, or other telecommunications systems **owned or operated by the state, a county, city, town, village, fire district, or emergency medical service**, or by **releasing a dangerous animal** intending that it obstruct government; ★ or\n- **(2)** intending to violate a government **closing order, order to seal, or temporary closing or sealing order** issued for a public health or safety concern, **damaging or removing a padlock or other device** installed to enforce it.\nThe offense is a **class A misdemeanor**. ★", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/195.05", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}