§29-3A-4. Person attacking or hindering or obstructing firefighter or emergency equipment; penalties.

(a) It is unlawful, while any fire department or company or firefighter is lawfully exercising or discharging the department's, company's or firefighter's official duty during an emergency, for any person to:

(1) Attack any firefighter or any of his or her equipment with any deadly weapon as defined in section two, article seven, chapter sixty-one of this code; or

(2) Intentionally hinder, obstruct, oppose, or attempt to hinder, obstruct or oppose, or counsel, advise or invite others to hinder, obstruct or oppose, any fire department, fire company or firefighter.

(b) Any person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in a state correctional facility not less than one nor more than ten years, or, in the discretion of the court, be confined in the regional or county jail not more than one year or fined not more than $500, or both.

(c) Any person willfully violating any of the provisions of section one or three of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500.

(d) Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent law-enforcement officials from controlling traffic and otherwise maintaining order at the scene of a fire.

(e) No person may willfully fail or refuse to comply with a lawful order or direction of any fire department or company or firefighter who is lawfully exercising or discharging the department's, company's or firefighter's official duty during an emergency, relating to directing, controlling or regulating traffic, so long as such order or direction is conveyed by a retro-reflective hand signing device. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof: (1) For a first offense shall be fined not more than $100; (2) for a second offense occurring within one year of a previous conviction shall be fined not more than $200; and (3) for a third and subsequent offense shall be fined not more than $500.