Judge limits new California law protecting vaccination sites

By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A federal judge has thrown out California’s new 30-foot buffer zone designed to restrict protests at coronavirus vaccination sites. But U.S. District Judge Dale Drozd’s ruling Saturday left in place other parts of a new state law despite arguments that it infringes on free speech. The law that took effect Oct. 8 makes it illegal to come within 30 feet of someone at a vaccination site “for the purpose of obstructing, injuring, harassing, intimidating, or interfering with that person.” The judge says the 30-foot limit in the law’s definition harassing is too restrictive. So he’s barring the state from enforcing that portion of the law.