The bill amends Section 31-27-4.1 of the General Laws regarding motor vehicle offenses, specifically addressing the crime of eluding a law enforcement officer during a high-speed pursuit. Under the new provisions, any individual who eludes a police vehicle in high-speed pursuit shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony and shall be imprisoned for not more than five years at the adult correctional institutions (ACI), and/or be subject to a fine of not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) but not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000). Additionally, the individual may have their license suspended for not less than one year but not more than two years, and may be subject to the forfeiture of their motor vehicle.

This act significantly increases the penalties compared to previous laws, which included lesser fines and shorter incarceration periods for first and subsequent offenses. The previous sanctions, which allowed for up to one year of incarceration and fines of up to one thousand dollars for first-time offenders, have been removed. The act will take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
544: 31-27-4.1