Senate adopts tougher attempting-to-elude language with amendments

The Senate took up S.B. 233, legislation targeting attempting-to-elude offenses, and adopted multiple amendments negotiated in committee. Senator Gavan offered an amendment carving out that a person who flees on foot would not automatically be subject to the felony enhancement applicable to vehicle flight; Senator Bell proposed changes that shortened look-back windows for repeat offenses from the originally proposed 10 years to a 5-year and then a 7-year look-back for subsequent offenses.

Senator Bell described the package of changes as the result of extensive work and negotiation, and the chamber adopted the amendments by recorded votes. The bill as amended received third reading and passed with 34 ayes and no nays.

The sponsor said the measure refines the statutory approach to distinguishing foot flight from vehicle evasion and adjusts recidivism windows to reflect negotiated consensus. The bill proceeds to the next steps in the legislative process.