ROAD Act

This bill amends title 18 of the United States Code to establish an affirmative defense in criminal or civil actions for damages related to motor vehicle incidents. This defense applies when the injury or damage was sustained by a participant acting in furtherance of a riot . To establish this defense, evidence must show the participant was convicted of a riot-related offense (section 2101), or the commission of such a crime must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence. In civil actions where this affirmative defense is raised, the court is mandated to stay the proceedings during the pendency of any related criminal action that forms the basis for the defense. This stay is only lifted if the court determines that a conviction in the criminal case would not constitute a valid defense under this new provision.