A bill that would make it a crime to harass or annoy a first responder in Monroe County is getting some pushback from Democrats in the county legislature.  

Legislator Rachel Barnhart wrote a letter to County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo asking her to refrain from signing the bill. She calls it "deeply flawed," adding that such a law could be abused by police officers, could violate free speech, and probably wouldn't stand up in court, if challenged.

“This deeply flawed bill is drawing criticism from legal experts across the country for its vague language which would make it a crime to ‘annoy’ a first responder,” Barnhart wrote. “We have laws on the books already to protect our officers. Even local law enforcement have told us they do not see the need for this legislation.”

By a party line vote of 17-10, the Republican-controlled Monroe County Legislature passed the bill earlier this month.

The legislation has caught the attention of some first responders from outside Monroe County. Matthew Sproul, chief of Canandaigua Emergency Squad, says he believes the extra protections will help those who respond to incidents.

“I’ve been assaulted on scene before. I've been stabbed before,” said Sproul. “There's a lot of people who intentionally make our job hard, while we try to take care of others."

If signed into law by Dinolfo, violators could face fines of up to $5,000 and up to a year in jail.