Fleeing the scene is one of the most common responses to doing something wrong, and while most people surrender when police try to stop them, some people find the potential penalties too intimidating to face, and they run. While this reaction is fairly instinctual, running from police is still a crime, and the consequences for evading the police are sometimes worse than the penalties the person may face for their original crime. Fortunately, it is possible to fight charges related to fleeing the police with the help of a top San Diego police evasion lawyer.
Evading the Police Consequences
Most police evasion charges are misdemeanors, but when drivers resort to using reckless driving tactics to avoid the law or caused any kind of property damage, the crime can be increased to a felony. If you are convicted of felony reckless evasion charges, you will face a minimum six month jail sentence and up to a maximum of three years in state prison. You also face the loss of your driver’s license. If the crime is a misdemeanor, you will face a sentence of up to one year in jail and $1,000 in fines.
Evading the Police Doesn’t Always Involve a Car Chase
It is important to realize that while most police evasion cases involve motor vehicles, you can still be charged with fleeing from the police if you were riding a bike or on foot. In order for the prosecution to prove you are guilty of evading the police, they must show that you were intentionally fleeing a police officer who was driving a marked vehicle with at least one lit red lamp that was visible from the front that was in your view. The officer must also have been in a distinctive uniform and sounded the siren as needed. If all of these requirements were not met, a San Diego police evasion lawyer will likely be able to show there is not enough evidence for you to be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Fight the Charges With a San Diego Police Evasion Lawyer
If you have been accused of evading the police or similar charges, such as resisting arrest, a San Diego police evasion lawyer like Peter M. Liss can help. Please call (760) 643-4050 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Creative Commons Image by Craig ONeal
