The bill amends Section 13A-10-41 of the Code of Alabama 1975, which pertains to the crime of resisting arrest. The new language specifies that a person commits this crime if they intentionally prevent or attempt to prevent a peace officer from effecting a lawful arrest of themselves or another individual. The bill changes the classification of resisting arrest from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor, while also introducing enhanced penalties for certain circumstances. Specifically, if a person brandishes a deadly weapon or causes physical injury to another during the act of resisting arrest, it will be classified as a Class D felony. If the person uses a deadly weapon or causes serious physical injury, it will be classified as a Class C felony.

Additionally, the bill includes several insertions to clarify the language and definitions used in the law, such as changing "affecting" to "effecting" and adding gender-neutral terms like "he or she" and "himself or herself." The act is set to become effective on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13A-10-41
Engrossed: 13A-10-41