CHAPTER 51
OBSTRUCTING GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
Subchapter
A. Definition of Offenses Generally
B. Escape
C. Criminal Gangs
Enactment. Chapter 51 was added December 6, 1972, P.L.1482, No.334, effective in six months.
Cross References. Chapter 51 is referred to in section 3016 of this title; sections 17316, 17346 of
Title 16 (Counties); section 5508.3 of Title 53 (Municipalities Generally); section
6017 of Title 64 (Public Authorities and Quasi-Public Corporations).
SUBCHAPTER A
DEFINITION OF OFFENSES GENERALLY
Sec.
5101. Obstructing administration of law or other governmental function.
5102. Obstructing or impeding the administration of justice by picketing, etc.
5103. Unlawfully listening into deliberations of jury.
5103.1. Unlawful use of an audio or video device in court.
5104. Resisting arrest or other law enforcement.
5104.1. Disarming law enforcement officer.
5105. Hindering apprehension or prosecution.
5106. Failure to report injuries by firearm or criminal act.
5107. Aiding consummation of crime.
5108. Compounding.
5109. Barratry.
5110. Contempt of General Assembly.
5111. Dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.
5112. Obstructing emergency services.
§ 5101. Obstructing administration of law or other governmental function.
A person commits a misdemeanor of the second degree if he intentionally obstructs,
impairs or perverts the administration of law or other governmental function by force,
violence, physical interference or obstacle, breach of official duty, or any other
unlawful act, except that this section does not apply to flight by a person charged
with crime, refusal to submit to arrest, failure to perform a legal duty other than
an official duty, or any other means of avoiding compliance with law without affirmative
interference with governmental functions.
Cross References. Section 5101 is referred to in section 5708 of this title; section 3132 of Title 27
(Environmental Resources; section 5552 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure).
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
110
cases (
26 in the last 5 years), 1975–2026 · leading case:
Commonwealth v. Feese, 79 A.3d 1101 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2013).
Commonwealth v. Feese, 79 A.3d 1101 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2013).
· cites it 6× “§ 5105; one count of obstructing administration of law or other government function, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5101; and eleven counts of criminal conspiracy, 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Reed, 851 A.2d 958 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2004).
· cites it 6× “NOTES [1] 18 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. § 5101 [2] Clearly, the free access of family members or intimate partners does not vitiate a person's expectation of privacy in an otherwise exclusive area.”
Commonwealth v. Goodman, 676 A.2d 234 (Pa. 1996).
· cites it 10× “Goodman appeals from the Order of the Superior Court affirming his conviction in the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming County for obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function in violation of 18 Pa. Cons.Stat.Ann. § 5101. On November 19, 1993, Officer…”
Commonwealth v. Kelly, 369 A.2d 438 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1976).
· cites it 6× “334, § 1, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5101 (1973). [4] Act of December 6, 1972, P.”
Commonwealth v. Millisock, 873 A.2d 748 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2005).
“If counsel files an Anders brief, Appellant shall be given the opportunity to file a brief with new counsel or pro se within forty-five (45) days of receipt of present counsel’s Motion to Withdraw.”
Commonwealth v. Johnson, 100 A.3d 207 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2014).
· cites it 4× “Was not the evidence insufficient to sustain the conviction of obstructing administration of law in that the defendant’s momentary need to get dressed before opening the door for police and then providing false answers in response to questions by law enforcement officers was not…”
Commonwealth v. Holston, 211 A.3d 1264 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).
“The Crimes Code defines the crime of obstruction of justice as follows: A person commits a misdemeanor of the second degree if he intentionally obstructs, impairs or perverts the administration of law or other governmental function by force, violence, physical interference or…”
Commonwealth v. Collins, 957 A.2d 237 (Pa. 2008).
“b)(3) because, inter alia, it did not indicate that he had conspired with anyone to keep the conversation secret; it did not suggest either affirmative interference with a government function on the part of Drayton or “force, violence, physical *450 interference or obstacle,…”
Commonwealth v. Ahmad, 961 A.2d 884 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2008).
“18 Pa. Cons.Stat.Ann. § 5101. 6 . Rule 2119 provides the following, in pertinent part: [[Image here]] (f) Discretionary aspects of sentence.”
Commonwealth v. Scarpone, 634 A.2d 1109 (Pa. 1993).
· cites it 3× “Scarpone appeals from the affirmance of his conviction of obstructing the administration of law and other governmental function (18 Pa.C.S. § 5101) and the Commonwealth cross-appeals from the reversal of Scarpone’s conviction of causing and assisting in the operation of a…”
Castellani v. Scranton Times, L.P., 956 A.2d 937 (Pa. 2008).
· cites it 2× “"); 18 Pa.C.S. § 5101 ("A person commits a misdemeanor of the second degree if he intentionally obstructs, impairs or perverts the administration of law or other governmental function by force, violence, physical interference or obstacle, breach of official duty, or any other…”
Commonwealth v. Shelly, 703 A.2d 499 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1997).
· cites it 3× “Section 5101 of the Crimes Code provides, in pertinent part, that “[a] person commits a misdemeanor of the second degree if he intentionally obstructs, impairs, or perverts the administration of law or other governmental function by force, violence, physical interference or…”
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