Can simply blocking someone’s driveway lead to an accusation of false imprisonment?

• A. No
• B. Yes
• C. Only if there's a court order
• D. Only if the person is held more than 10 minutes

Answer: (B)

False imprisonment is unlawfully restraining a person’s freedom of movement. Blocking a driveway can trap someone, preventing them from leaving or entering property, and if there’s no consent or legal authority, that confinement can amount to false imprisonment—even if it lasts only a brief moment. The duration isn’t the deciding factor and there isn’t a universal time limit like 10 minutes; what matters is the lack of legitimate authority. Only a person with lawful authority (for example, a law enforcement officer acting within their powers or a court order) could justify restricting movement; without that, simply blocking the driveway is an unlawful restraint.