Utah Code » Title 76, Chapter 8 — Offenses Against the Administration of Government; part 76-8-3 — Obstructing Governmental Operations
Utah Code

Utah Code § 76-8-305 (2026)

Interference with a peace officer

✓ current as of May 2026
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Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 and 76-8-101 apply to this section.
An actor commits interference with a peace officer if the actor:
knows, or by the exercise of reasonable care should have known, that a peace officer is seeking to effect a lawful arrest or detention of the actor or another individual; and
interferes with the arrest or detention by:
use of force or a weapon;
refusing to perform an act required by lawful order:
necessary to effect the arrest or detention; and
made by a peace officer involved in the arrest or detention; or
refusing to refrain from performing an act that would impede the arrest or detention.
A violation of Subsection (2) is a class B misdemeanor.
Recording the actions of a peace officer with a camera, mobile phone, or other photographic device, while the peace officer is performing official duties in plain view, does not by itself constitute:
interference with the peace officer;
willful resistance;
disorderly conduct; or
obstruction of justice.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 35 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1975–2026 · leading case: State v. Trane, 2002 UT 97 (Utah 2002).
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State v. Trane, 2002 UT 97 (Utah 2002). · cites it 60× “§ 76-9-701 (1) (1999); and interfering with a peace officer, a misdemeanor, in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-305 (2) (1999). Trane moved to suppress the cocaine.”
State v. Gardiner, 814 P.2d 568 (Utah 1991). · cites it 56× “That statute read: "A person is guilty of a class B misdemeanor when he [or she] intentionally interferes with a person recognized to be a law enforcement official seeking to effect an arrest or detention of himself [or herself] or another regardless of whether there is a legal…”
Am. Fork City v. Pena-Flores, 2002 UT 131 (Utah 2002). · cites it 67× “*677 On Certiorari to the Utah Court of Appeals RUSSON, Justice: ¶ 1 Luis Pena-Flores ("Pena-Flores") was convicted in October 1999 of interfering with a peace officer seeking to effect a lawful arrest or detention, a class B misdemeanor in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-305…”
State v. Griego, 933 P.2d 1003 (Utah Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 38× “5 (1995), and one count of interference with an arresting officer, a class B misdemeanor, in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-305 (1995). Specifically, Griego claims that the trial court erred in not dismissing the charges against him because the State failed to prove…”
Oliver v. Woods, 209 F.3d 1179 (10th Cir. 2000). · cites it 5× “Oliver had no clearly established constitutional right to violate Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-305 by refusing to identify himself and by leaving Dave’s parking lot.”
Felders v. Malcom, 755 F.3d 870 (10th Cir. 2014). · cites it 2× “We held, based on this information, the responding officer had probable cause to arrest a plaintiff for “refusing to identify himself and leaving the scene of an investigation” in violation of Utah Code § 76-8-305. 7 But the plaintiffs conduct in Woods obviously violated the…”
State v. Amboh, 2023 UT App 150 (Utah Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 7× “2 See Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-305 (1) (LexisNexis 2017); id.”
Cavanaugh v. Woods Cross City, 718 F.3d 1244 (10th Cir. 2013). · cites it 2× “Jury Instruction for Resisting Arrest Cavanaugh also contends the district court erred in refusing to instruct the jury as she requested on the resisting arrest factor.”
State v. Salgado, 2018 UT App 139 (Utah Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “" ¶22 The jury convicted Salgado of one count of interference with an arresting officer, a class B misdemeanor, see Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-305 (LexisNexis 2017), and one count of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, a class B misdemeanor, see id.”
Salt Lake City v. Carrera, 2015 UT 73 (Utah 2015). · cites it 2× “Carrera to whom the card belonged and whether he knew Ms. Alvin. Mr. Carrera responded that he did not know her.”
State v. Lucero, 2012 UT App 202 (Utah Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 4× “…person's or another person's refusal to refrain from performing any act that would impede the arrest or detention. Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-305 (2008).”
State v. Alonzo, 932 P.2d 606 (Utah Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 4× “Miguel Alonzo-Nolasco also appeals his conviction for interfering with an arrest, a class B misdemeanor, in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-305 (1995). We affirm.”
Show all 35 citing cases →
— Utah Code § 76-8-305(1) — 3 cases
State v. Griego, 933 P.2d 1003 (Utah Ct. App. 1997). “5 (1995), and one count of interference with an arresting officer, a class B misdemeanor, in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-305 (1995). Specifically, Griego claims that the trial court erred in not dismissing the charges against him because the State failed to prove…”
Farrand v. Am. Gen. Life Ins. Co., 361 F. Supp. 3d 1202 (D. Utah 2019).
Dunham v. Saratoga Springs City (D. Utah 2023).
— Utah Code § 76-8-305(1)(b) — 1 case
State v. Amboh, 2023 UT App 150 (Utah Ct. App. 2023). “2 See Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-305 (1) (LexisNexis 2017); id.”
— Utah Code § 76-8-305(2) — 1 case
Nicholas (D. Utah 2026).
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