This bill proposes amendments to the penalties associated with the offense of disobeying an officer, as requested by the Department of Safety. It modifies RSA 265:4 by adding new legal language and deleting existing provisions. Specifically, it introduces a new paragraph III, which outlines that individuals who violate certain provisions will face a class A misdemeanor, while those violating subparagraph I(c) will be charged with a class B felony. Additionally, if a violation of subparagraph I(c) results in injury or death to another person during a motor vehicle accident, the offender will be guilty of a class A felony. The previous language regarding fines for misdemeanors has been removed.

The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, and is expected to have indeterminable fiscal impacts on state and local governments, particularly concerning judicial and correctional systems. The changes in penalties may influence costs related to prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole. The bill does not anticipate any revenue generation but may affect expenditures for the state and local entities involved in law enforcement and judicial processes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 265:4
SB409 text: 265:4