Governor Kay Ivey on Monday said she is continuing her “crackdown on criminals” and again called for the passage of public safety legislation that increases penalties for eluding law enforcement. She outlined this bill as a legislative priority during her recent State of the State address.
“Government at all levels should always prioritize public safety. And we can thank the men and women in blue for enforcing our laws,” Ivey said during her State of the State address. “Unfortunately, some criminals attempt to elude their authority. There are repeat offenders and in the worst cases, there has even been loss of life. It is time we crack down on that reckless, criminal behavior and pass a bill led by Representative Reed Ingram and Senator Lance Bell.”
In current law, attempting to elude is generally a Class A misdemeanor, with felony enhancements only tied to specific conduct.
The current law also lacks provisions to adequately address aggravating circumstances that place law enforcement and children at risk, and there are no baseline sentencing consequences for repeat offenders, according to Ivey’s press release.
She is pushing a pair of companion bills, House Bill 37 and Senate Bill 233, to change that.
“This legislation will not only crack down on reckless criminals trying to elude our law enforcement but also enhance the safety of Alabama’s citizens by dissuading this careless criminal act,” Bell said. “It is time to impose stricter penalties for those who flee law enforcement—especially repeat offenders who put innocent motorists, pedestrians and officers at risk. I want to thank Governor Ivey for continuing to make public safety a priority for her administration.”
This legislation will enhance penalties for attempting to elude a law enforcement officer by elevating the base offense from a misdemeanor to a felony. It will also toughen sentences against “reckless” behavior like eluding with children in the vehicle, striking law enforcement officers in their vehicles or while the offender is on pretrial release.
The legislation is said to strengthen sentences for repeat offenders by requiring mandatory jail time.
“Fleeing from law enforcement is not a harmless mistake—it is a dangerous decision that puts officers and innocent families at serious risk,” Ingram said. “By elevating these offenses and establishing mandatory minimums for repeat violations, we are sending a clear message: Alabama stands firmly behind our law enforcement officers and will not tolerate reckless behavior that jeopardizes public safety. I want to thank Governor Ivey for making this legislation a priority for her this session.”
Ivey said public safety will continue to be a top priority for her throughout this final year in office.
