Bill > HB37

This bill amends existing Alabama law to increase penalties for eluding or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, which is defined as intentionally fleeing from an officer after receiving a signal to stop while operating a motor vehicle. Previously a Class A misdemeanor, a first offense is now a Class D felony, with penalties escalating to a Class C felony if the eluding causes a collision with another vehicle or pedestrian, results in physical injury to another person, involves crossing state lines, or if a child under 14 is in the vehicle, if the offender is on bail, probation, parole, or in a community corrections program, or if the offender has a prior conviction for eluding. The offense becomes a Class B felony if it causes serious physical injury or death to another person, if the offender exceeds 20 miles per hour over the speed limit during the flight, if the offender strikes or attempts to strike an officer or their vehicle, or if the offender has two or more prior convictions for eluding. Additionally, the bill mandates driver's license suspension for at least six months for any conviction, and requires minimum jail time of 90 days for a second conviction and 180 days for a third or subsequent conviction within a 10-year period. It also clarifies that continuing to drive at or below the speed limit to find a safe place to stop is not a violation, and requires municipalities to reimburse counties for medical costs of individuals arrested by municipal agencies and detained in county jails.

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