The Alabama House of Representatives is set to consider legislation Tuesday to increase the penalties for someone charged with resisting arrest. House Bill 484 is sponsored by state Rep. Connie Rowe R-Jasper.
HB585, if passed, would raise resisting arrest from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor. Resisting arrest with a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument would be a Class C felony. HB484 received a favorable report from the House Judiciary Committee and is on Tuesday’s special order calendar.
Rowe is formerly the police chief of Jasper. She was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2014.
The House has already passed legislation by Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-Morris, to increase penalties for participating in a riot, with enhanced penalties for assaulting a police officer during a riot or insurrection.
Treadaway is a former Birmingham Police Department deputy chief. The House has also passed legislation increasing the penalties for attempting to elude pursuit by law enforcement. That bill was sponsored by Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg. Those two bills are now being considered by the Alabama Senate.
Tuesday will be day 24 of the 2021 Legislative Session. The Alabama Constitution of 1901 limits sessions to just 30 days in a 105-calendar day period of time. May 17 is scheduled to be the last day.
