The proposed bill would amend current statutes regarding unlawful flight from law enforcement. Under the current law, a driver who willfully flees or attempts to elude a pursuing official law enforcement vehicle is guilty of a class 5 felony if certain conditions are met. The bill introduces new classifications for offenses related to this behavior. Specifically, it would establish that a driver is guilty of a class 4 felony if they recklessly endanger another person's life while fleeing, and a class 2 felony if they cause serious physical injury, transport a minor under 15, or are found guilty of driving under the influence while fleeing.

Additionally, the bill makes conforming changes to the language of the statute to reflect these new classifications and clarifies the conditions under which the more severe penalties apply. The overall effect of the bill would be to increase the penalties for drivers who engage in reckless behavior while fleeing from law enforcement, thereby enhancing public safety measures.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 28-622.01
Senate Engrossed Version: 28-622.01