State v. Spencer

G.S. 20-174.1 makes it unlawful for any person to wilfully stand, sit, or lie upon a highway or street in such a manner as to impede the regular flow of traffic.

It is undisputed that the defendants impeded the flow of traffic along a public highway in the community of Swan Quarter on 11 November 1968 by walking slowly back and forth across the highway in such a manner as to cause traffic to be blocked in both directions for approximately five minutes. They insist, however, that this conduct did not violate G.S. 20-174.1 because that statute does not specifically prohibit “walking” as…