Oxford Police Chief Bill Partridge says the Alabama Police Chiefs Association supports the law change.
“There’s a little over 390 law enforcement agencies in the state, so you can imagine out of those how many times that a pursuit’s occured,” said Partridge. Rep. Rolanda Hollis, D-Jefferson County, was a bystander caught in a chase. She suffers from shoulder pain four years later after her car was hit by a suspect on the run.“If you’re going to flee from police, then you should have to pay that price,” said Partridge. “And that price should be a felony.”
Rep. Ginny Shave, R- DeKalb County, will sponsor the bill to make eluding law enforcement a Class C felony. If the chase results in injury or death, the charge will be a Class B felonyIn the past, similar bills were unsuccessful, but there is hope for the 2023 legislative session due to a renewed focus on public safety.“The risk that it poses to the public to be a misdemeanor is just wrong and endangers unnecessary lives,” said Partridge.
When lawmakers meet to debate in March, the goal is that the bill will finally pass through the Senate chamber and go to the governor for signing.Copyright 2022 WSFA. All rights reserved.
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