Req. No. 1353 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) SENATE BILL 871 By: Reinhardt AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to crimes and punishment; amending 21 O.S. 2021, Section 540A, which relates to eluding peace officers; modifying certain penalty provisions; updating statutory language; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 21 O.S. 2021, Section 540A, is amended to read as follo ws: Section 540A. A. Any operator of a motor vehicle who has received a visual and audible signal, a red light , and a siren from a peace officer driving a motor vehicle showing the same to be an official police, sheriff, highway patrol , or state game ranger vehicle directing the operator to bring the vehicle to a stop and who willfully increases the speed or extinguishes the lights of the vehicle in an attempt to elude such peace officer, or willfully attempts in any other manner to elude the peace office r, or who does elude such peace officer, is guilty of a misdemeanor. The peac e officer, while attempting to stop a violator of this section, may Req. No. 1353 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 communicate a request for the assistance of other peace officers from any office, department , or agency. Any peace officer within this state having knowledge of such request is authorized to render such assistance in stopping the violator and may effect an arrest under this section upon probable cause. Violation of this subsection shall, upon conviction, constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by not less than six (6) months nor more than one (1) year imprisonment in the county jail or, by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment. A second or subsequent violation of this subsection shall be punishable by not more than one (1) year imprisonment in the county jail or, by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollar s ($5,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment. B. Any person who viola tes the provisions of subsection A of this section in such manner as to endanger any other person shall , upon conviction, be deemed guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not less than one (1) year thirty (30) months nor more than five (5) years, or by a fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment. Req. No. 1353 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 C. 1. Any person who cau ses an accident, while eluding or attempting to elude an officer, resulting in great bodily injury to any other person while driving or operating a motor vehicle within this state and who is in violation of the provisions of subsection A of this section may be charged with a violation of the provisions of this subsection. Any person who is convicted of a violation of the provisions of this subsection shall be deemed guilty of a f elony punishable by imprisonment in a state correctional institution the custody of the Department of Corrections for not less than one (1) year and not five (5) years nor more than five (5) seven (7) years, and a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollar s ($5,000.00). 2. As used in this subsection, “great bodily injury” means bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or org an. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 20 25. 60-1-1353 CN 1/16/2025 9:57:16 AM