Policing in a democracy is often a tightrope affair, forcing officers to balance individual rights with the need for safe and effective law enforcement practices. Recent years have seen odd situations, such as police officers guarding activists who were protesting … police officers.

While some of these scenarios are a bit zany, others are outright dangerous. Activist groups that encourage bystanders to film (and even interfere with) police officers, combined with the ubiquity of cellphone cameras, have created some problematic situations for officers on the street. Some states have tried to address the problem via legislation.

In Louisiana, a law that took effect August 1, 2024, created a “buffer zone” between officers and citizens who might wish to witness or film an encounter. Essentially, the statute makes it a crime to approach within 25 feet of a working police officer after being ordered to step back. A person convicted of “knowingly or intentionally” approaching an officer who is engaged in “official duties” after being ordered to “stop approaching” faces a $500 fine, 60 days in jail or both.

According to AP News, that new statute was blocked on January 31 by U.S. District Judge John deGravelles via a preliminary injunction. The injunction was sought by several media outlets that are suing over the law. deGravelles wrote that the law isn’t clear about what actions might prompt officers to issue a retreat order and lacks standards that officers should follow when issuing such an order.

Opponents of the law contend that it might interfere with a reporter’s right to film and observe officers. deGravelles apparently agreed with them, writing that the “Plaintiffs’ First Amendment right to gather the news is likely to be impaired if the act is not enjoined.”

This isn’t the first time a buffer-zone statute has been blocked by a court. Similar measures were shot down in Arizona and Indiana.

The federal court’s ruling leaves officers in a difficult situation. While a buffer-zone law could theoretically be misused by officers, the lack of one creates incredibly dangerous situations. It’s difficult enough to control encounters with resistant subjects. Giving bystanders free rein to wave a cellphone in an officer’s face while they grapple with rowdy subjects is a recipe for disaster.

In Louisiana, at least, the buffer-zone fight isn’t over. Attorney General Liz Murrill says that she’s going to continue defending the law in court.

“We think it is a reasonable time, place and manner restriction from obstructing and interfering with working police,” she said. “We are trying to protect the public. This is a reasonable law.”