Drivers Fleeing from Officers in Wisconsin

 

You could face substantial penalties if you flee from an officer in Wisconsin

No one ever wants to get pulled over. If you see a police car’s lights behind you, you still have to stop. If you do not, you will face penalties that depend not only on what you do, but on what happens next. To avoid significant penalties on top of your ticket, make sure you cooperate with the police on the road.

Failure to Stop

If a police officer tries to pull you over and you keep going, you face charges for failing to stop for a police officer. This is a misdemeanor in Wisconsin. If you are convicted, you face up to nine months in jail and a fine up to $10,000.

Fleeing or Eluding

Beyond failing to stop, if you try to avoid the police officer, the charge moves from misdemeanor failure to stop to being a Class I felony for fleeing or eluding. This can include speeding up, turning sharply from the road, or other maneuvers to attempt to escape the pursuing officer. Conviction here can mean up to three and a half years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Fleeing with Property Damage

From here, penalties can increase if your attempt to escape leads to an accident. If you hit another vehicle while fleeing the police, your potential felony becomes a Class H. This can bring you a prison term of up to six years, along with a fine up to $10,000.

Fleeing with Great Bodily Harm or Death

If you injure another person while fleeing, the penalties become even steeper. Fleeing an officer and causing great bodily harm is a Class F felony. Conviction brings up to twelve and a half years in prison and a $25,000 fine. If the person dies, the charge becomes a Class E felony, with up to fifteen years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

When you see the police behind you, pull over; the consequences only become worse if you do not. If you face charges for fleeing the police, you need a strong defense. Contact Eisenberg Law Offices online or at (608)256-8356 to get help.