Have you or someone you know been arrested for fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer? The crime of fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer is governed by Florida Statute 316.1935. You will be charged with fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement if you are:
- Driving a vehicle on a street or highway;
- Ordered by a duly authorized police officer to stop your vehicle and
- Knowingly, willfully and purposely refusing to stop. OR;
- Having stopped, willfully fled in a vehicle in an attempt to elude the officer
Fleeing and Eluding a Police Officer is classified as a 3rd Degree Felony punishable by up to 5 years of prison, 5 years of probation and a $5,000.00 fine along with a 1 year minimum driver license suspension up to 5 year maximum.
Penalties for Fleeing from Law Enforcement
However, if there are additional facts brought up by the prosecution, the case could become more “Aggravated”, or more serious with harsher penalties:
- Lights and Sirens Activated
- Fleeing while Lights and Sirens Activated with High speed or Reckless Driving
- Lights and Siren Activated with High Speed or Reckless Driving Causing Bodily Injury or Death
If any of these circumstances are present in your case, you could be facing 2nd Degree or even 1st Degree penalties punishable by up to 30 years in Prison.
Contact a Broward County Fleeing Defense Attorney
If you are charged with any of these crimes, the smartest decision you could make is to speak to an experienced Broward criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. The Office of Attorney Grant Schwarz has been representing criminal defense clients since 1979. Lead Attorney Grant Schwarz is rated 10.0 out of 10.0 Superb on Avvo.com and ready to take your case on and start fighting to defend your rights today.
