This bill amends West Virginia Code §61-5-17 to establish enhanced penalties for individuals who flee from law enforcement officers, both on foot and in vehicles. It introduces new felony classifications for second and third offenses, with specific fines and imprisonment terms. For instance, a second offense of fleeing on foot will result in a felony charge with a fine ranging from $250 to $1,000 and imprisonment of one to three years, while a third offense will incur a fine of $1,000 to $2,000 and imprisonment of three to five years. Similar enhancements are made for fleeing in a vehicle, with escalating penalties for repeat offenses.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that a conviction for fleeing while under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be treated as a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction for licensure purposes. This means that individuals convicted under this provision will face the same consequences regarding their driving privileges as those convicted of DUI. The bill aims to strengthen the legal framework surrounding offenses related to fleeing from law enforcement, thereby enhancing public safety and accountability.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 61-5-17