HCSHBs1692&1748--OFFENSESINVOLVINGARRESTS,STOPS,AND
DETENTIONS(Sparks)
COMMITTEEOFORIGIN:StandingCommitteeonCrimePreventionand
PublicSafety
Thisbillamendsthepenaltyfortheoffenseofresistingor
interferingwitharrest,whichiscurrentlyaclassAmisdemeanor
undercertaincircumstancesandaclassEfelonyunderother
circumstances. Thisbillspecifiesthatresistingorinterfering
withorescapingorattemptingtoescapefromastop,detention,or
arrestorfromcustodyaftersuchstop,detention,orarrestisa
classAmisdemeanor,unlessitfallswithinoneoftheexceptions
listedinthebill,inwhichcaseitisaclassEfelony.Ifthe
escapeorattemptedescapeiscommittedbymeansofadeadlyweapon
oradangerousinstrumentorbyholdinganotherpersonhostage,it
isaclassAfelony.
Thebillalsocreates"Valentine'sLaw",whichestablishesthe
offenseofaggravatedfleeingastopordetentionofamotor
vehicle. Apersoncommitssuchoffenseifheorsheknowsor
reasonablyshouldknowthatalawenforcementofficerisattempting
todetainorstopamotorvehicleand,invariouswaysdescribedin
thebill,heorsheflees.Apersonispresumedtobefleeingan
attemptedvehicledetentionorstopifheorshecontinuesto
operateamotorvehicleafterheorshehasseenorreasonably
shouldhaveseenclearlyvisibleemergencylightsorhasheardor
reasonablyshouldhaveheardanaudiblesignalemanatingfromthe
pursuinglawenforcementvehicle. Whileitisnotadefenseto
prosecutionofthisoffensethattheofficerwasactingunlawfully,
theprovisionsofthebilldonotbarcivilsuitsforunlawful
arrest.Theoffenseofaggravatedfleeingastopordetentionwhen
apersonoperatesavehicleatahighrateofspeed,definedas10
milesperhourorgreateroverthepostedspeedlimit,orinsucha
waythatcreatesasubstantialriskofseriousphysicalinjuryor
deathtoanypersonisaclassDfelonywithouteligibilityfor
probation,parole,orconditionalreleaseuntilthepersonhas
servedatleastoneyearofhisorhersentence. Theoffensewhen,
asaresultofthefleeing,thepersoncausesphysicalinjuryto
anotherpersonisaclassBfelony.If,asaresultofthe
fleeing,apersoncausesdeathtoanotherperson,theoffenseisa
classAfelony.Theprovisionsofthissectiondonotapplytoa
personwhocontinuesdrivingatasafespeedtofindsomewheresafe
andwell-littopullover.