HB1692--VALENTINE'SLAW
SPONSOR: Sparks
Thisbillcreates"Valentine'sLaw",whichestablishestheoffense
ofaggravatedfleeingastopordetentionofamotorvehicle. A
personcommitssuchoffenseifheorsheknowsorreasonablyshould
knowthatalawenforcementofficerisattemptingtodetainorstop
amotorvehicleand,invariouswaysdescribedinthebill,heor
sheflees.Apersonispresumedtobefleeinganattemptedvehicle
detentionorstopifheorshecontinuestooperateamotorvehicle
afterheorshehasseenorreasonablyshouldhaveseenclearly
visibleemergencylightsorhasheardorreasonablyshouldhave
heardanaudiblesignalemanatingfromthepursuinglawenforcement
vehicle. Whileitisnotadefensetoprosecutionofthisoffense
thattheofficerwasactingunlawfully,theprovisionsofthebill
donotbarcivilsuitsforunlawfularrest.Theoffenseof
aggravatedfleeingastopordetentionwhenapersonoperatesa
vehicleatahighrateofspeedorinsuchawaythatcreatesa
substantialriskofseriousphysicalinjuryordeathtoanyperson
isaclassDfelonywithouteligibilityforprobation,parole,or
conditionalreleaseuntilthepersonhasservedatleastoneyear
ofhisorhersentence. Theoffensewhen,asaresultofthe
fleeing,thepersoncausesphysicalinjurytoanotherpersonisa
classBfelony.If,asaresultofthefleeing,apersoncauses
deathtoanotherperson,theoffenseisaclassAfelony.