Six US states have introduced or passed laws to give legal protection to drivers who hit protesters with their cars.

Many came in response to protester tactics used in their respective states. In the past protesters have deliberately blocked roads.

But, in the light of the vehicle ramming attack which killed an anti-fascist demonstrator in Charlottesville, Virginia, the laws have taken on a sinister edge.

With the exception of one state, the proposed laws do not protect drivers deliberately attacking protesters, meaning intent would have to be proven in some cases – a potentially difficult legal area.

Hundreds gather for Charlottesville vigil

Rhode Island’s House Bill 5690 ensures motorists are “immune from civil liability” if they are “exercising due care and injures another person who is participating in a protest or demonstration and is blocking traffic in a public right-of-way”.

It has been recommended for further scrutiny.

The latest law to be introduced was the House Bill 250, at a July special session of the Texas Legislature.

It related to “civil liability for injury of a protestor by the operator of a motor vehicle”.

While careless drivers are not protected, it does not overtly exempt drivers that cause deliberate harm from legal protection. But the law failed to progress out of the special session, killing it.

A North Dakota politician introduced House Bill 1203 in February to tackle “terrorism on the roadways,” which he said developed form the protests against the Access Pipeline being built in the state.

“The bill got introduced for people to be able to drive down the roads without fear of running into somebody and having to be liable for them," Rep. Keith Kempenich told CNN.

The law failed to receive enough votes to be passed.

Another state which introduced a similar type of law in response to protests was North Carolina. House Bill 330 came about in response to the disorder which followed the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a black man who was gunned down by a black police officer.

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

The bill passed in the state legislature’s lower chamber has and must now be approved in the state Senate.

In Florida, Senate Bill 1096 was proposed in February. Unlike other bills, it did not fully protect the driver if they caused injury to a protester who then chose to sue. The law was not passed.