Fleeing and eluding police in Oklahoma can be a serious crime. Eluding is the act of avoiding or attempt to escape from any sheriff, policeman, or any other law enforcement officer whose duty it is to enforce and preserve the public peace.
You can be charged with fleeing and eluding police in Oklahoma under many circumstances – the most common being while operating a motor vehicle.
In Okmulgee, Oklahoma, if a police officer directs you to stop your vehicle, or uses a siren or red light in attempt to signal you to stop, you must stop as soon as reasonably possible.
If the driver after being signaled to stop, willfully eludes or attempt to elude the officer, by increasing his speed or turning off his lights, or attempts to elude the officer in any other way, the driver can be charged with fleeing and eluding. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 540
Fleeing and Eluding Police in Oklahoma – Possible Penalties
You can be immediately arrested for fleeing and eluding and charged with a misdemeanor crime. A first-time offense is punishable a one year in prison, a fine of $100 to $2,000, or both. A second-time offender may serve a year in jail and pay a fine of $500 to $5,000.
Endangering other people or causing an accident that results in great bodily injury to another person while fleeing and eluding police in Oklahoma (or attempting to do so) can result in a felony charge with severe penalties. “Great bodily injury” means bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death, causes serious permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any of the body’s limbs or organs.
If found guilty of fleeing and eluding, you could go to prison for up to five years, pay a fine of $1,000 to $5,000, or both.
Aiding Someone in Fleeing and Eluding Police in Oklahoma
Sometimes aiding another to flee or elude can also give rise to serious charges. For instance, helping a minor to elude or evade arrest in relation to a drug-related crime could lead you to be charged with a crime that carries penalties of up to $200,000 and 20 years in prison. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 856.1
Also, harboring a fugitive or someone who is guilty of a felony offense can carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
Aiding a sex offender in eluding registration or arrest can be punishable by up to a year of incarceration, a $500 fine, or both. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 440
Fleeing and eluding police in Oklahoma can also play a role in other serious felony crimes such as a felony murder charge.
Low-cost Consultation: Okmulgee Criminal Defense Attorney
If you or someone you know is accused of fleeing and eluding police in Oklahoma, please contact a Okmulgee criminal defense attorney to discuss your available legal options.
For a no-obligation consultation with an experienced attorney at the Wirth Law Office – Okmulgee, call 918-756–9600 today.
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