LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The Michigan Senate voted unanimously Thursday to go a invoice that might designate the Mackinac Bridge as a key facility—making trespassing on it a felony beneath state legislation.
“This essential and iconic structure is an identifying symbol of our state,” stated Mich. Sen. John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs. “Now we have had some regarding conditions in current historical past, and this designation would have helped enormously with the prosecution of unhealthy actors.”
The Mackinac Bridge Authority says that some “troubling” incidents have occurred on the bridge not too long ago, together with individuals climbing towers to take pictures and a bomb menace that disrupted journey for hours.
SB 71 would change that, making it unlawful to trespass on components of Mighty Mac not designated for public use. Doing so would land you with a felony cost punishable by as much as 4 years in jail and a $2,500 nice.
This is not the primary time the state legislature has tried to go related payments. In 2022, the Authority handed a decision supporting HB-5315, which might have designated the Mackinac Bridge and different bridges within the state as key amenities. This invoice was handed by the state Home 99-6 in 2022, however later stalled within the Senate.
The invoice will now head to the Michigan Home for consideration. You possibly can learn the invoice because it handed the Senate under.
2025-SEBS-0071Download
