Bill > SB233

This bill amends Alabama law to increase penalties for fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, which is defined as intentionally fleeing from an officer attempting to arrest someone or intentionally fleeing or attempting to elude an officer while operating a motor vehicle after receiving a signal to stop. A violation of the general fleeing provision is a Class A misdemeanor, while fleeing in a vehicle is a Class D felony. These offenses become a Class C felony if the flight causes a collision with another vehicle or pedestrian, results in injury to another person, involves crossing state lines, occurs with a child under 14 in the vehicle, happens while the offender is on bail, probation, parole, or in a community corrections or work release program, or if the offender has a prior conviction for fleeing. The offenses escalate to a Class B felony if the flight causes serious physical injury or death, 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 fleeing. Additionally, convictions for fleeing will result in driver's license suspension, and repeat offenders within specific timeframes will face mandatory minimum jail sentences of 90 days for a second conviction and 180 days for a third or subsequent conviction. The bill also clarifies that it is not a violation to pull over at the nearest safe place while driving at or below the speed limit.