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 is found guilty of eluding a police vehicle in high-speed pursuit will be charged with a felony. The penalties for this offense include imprisonment for up to five years, a fine ranging from five thousand to ten thousand dollars, a license suspension for one to two years, and potential forfeiture of the motor vehicle.

This bill significantly increases the penalties compared to previous law, 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