'Mile a Month' sentencing bill draws questions about scope and unintended consequences

Sponsor (speaker 13) presented HB1265, the 'Mile a Month Act,' proposing mandatory incarceration scaled by distance: one month per mile run from specified state law‑enforcement units (Georgia State Patrol and designated public‑safety divisions). The sponsor said the measure is aimed at deterring high‑speed pursuits that endanger officers and the public and cited recent incidents as rationale for tougher mandatory penalties.

Committee members expressed support for the objective but raised several implementation and fairness concerns. Representative Evans and others said the bill’s current language could capture drivers who do not meaningfully flee—for example, drivers seeking a well‑lit area to stop or avoiding impersonators—and asked whether the measure includes exceptions for safety. The sponsor said the bill is limited to state patrol and commercial vehicle enforcement divisions and agreed to continue offline discussions about refining language and possible grace exceptions.

Members also questioned how distance would be measured and how sentencing would avoid disproportionate outcomes when measurement precision is uncertain. The sponsor said law‑enforcement training and input from judiciary stakeholders would be part of drafting; he invited further committee and judiciary review to ensure proportionality and precision.

No final action was taken; the sponsor encouraged further meetings with judicial stakeholders and law enforcement to refine the proposal.