Ohio's Halo law isn't about silencing citizens. It will save lives.

Last week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 20, commonly known as the "Halo Law." The legislation creates a 15-foot safety zone around first responders who are actively performing their duties and increases penalties for those who interfere with emergency operations. The law takes effect in October. 

Some praised the law as a long-overdue protection for police officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and probation officers. Others claimed it was an attack on free speech and the public's right to observe government officials.

As someone who has spent years both practicing law and serving as a part-time firefighter/EMT, I see the issue differently.

This law isn't about politics. It's about safety.

I've worked accident scenes on busy roadways. I've stood in the middle of a chaotic medical emergency while family members, neighbors, and bystanders crowded around trying to see what was happening. I've watched firefighters operate inches from moving traffic while distracted drivers slowed down to stare.

Emergency scenes are not spectator events.

When paramedics are performing CPR, seconds matter. When firefighters are stretching a hose line into a burning structure, focus matters. When police officers are attempting to secure a violent scene, awareness matters.

The public often sees the flashing lights but first responders see the hazards.

The reality is that a person who wanders too close to an emergency scene creates risks for everyone involved, including themselves. House Bill 20 addresses that problem by creating a 15-foot buffer around responders who are performing their official duties. After a warning, individuals who interfere with responders or threaten them can face criminal penalties.

The offense will be a first-degree misdemeanor and in cases where a risk of physical harm to a first responder is created, a fourth-degree felony.

Many assumed this protection already existed.

The debate surrounding the law has focused largely on concerns about recording police officers. I understand those concerns. Citizens absolutely have a right to observe and document public officials performing their duties. Transparency is an important part of our system of government.

The law does not prohibit recording, observing and criticizing government officials.

What it prohibits is interfering with emergency personnel after being warned to maintain a safe distance. 

Virtually everyone carries a smartphone capable of recording high-definition video from far beyond fifteen feet away. You don't need to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with an officer making an arrest or a paramedic treating a patient in order to exercise your constitutional rights.

Rights come with responsibilities and this principle applies to government officials and private citizens alike.

Critics worry the law could be abused and this is a fair concern. Any law can be abused if enforced improperly. Courts exist precisely to ensure that government power remains within constitutional limits. If the Halo Law is ever used as a tool to suppress lawful speech or peaceful observation, judges will have their say.

What's been missing from much of this discussion is the perspective of the victims and patients caught in the middle of these situations.

Imagine your spouse has just been involved in a serious crash.

Imagine your child is receiving emergency medical treatment on the side of the road.

Imagine your parent is suffering a cardiac arrest.

Would you want first responders focused on saving that person's life, or would you want them worrying about individuals crowding the scene, arguing with officers, or inserting themselves into the emergency?

This legislation was sponsored in part by State Representative Phil Plummer of Dayton, a former sheriff who understands firsthand the dangers first responders face.

Supporters argue the law provides responders with the space necessary to perform their duties safely and effectively.

From my perspective, this isn't a Republican issue or a Democrat issue but a common-sense issue.

The overwhelming majority of Ohioans respect law enforcement, firefighters and EMS personnel. They also support constitutional rights and government accountability. Those values are not mutually exclusive.

First responders deserve fifteen feet of space while they are trying to save a life.

The Halo Law doesn't create a wall between first responders and the communities they serve. It creates a small circle of safety around people doing one of the most difficult jobs imaginable.

Rob Scott is the Kettering Clerk of Court, an attorney and a small-business owner. Contact him at rob@robscott.us.