Fleeing to Elude

Fleeing to Elude in Florida is one of the most diligently prosecuted and investigated crimes under our criminal code. This charge is a serious criminal offense and because of that, the potential penalties are severe. Often this crime results in a high speed chase putting the lives of officers and innocent bystanders at risk. Fleeing often results in a motor vehicle crash damaging the property of others and unnecessarily uses State and insurance funds to fix those damages. Because of this, Florida authorities take this allegation very seriously. This crime is spelled out in Florida Statute 316.1935 and ranges from a third degree felony punishable by up to 5 years in the Florida Department of Corrections and a $5,000 fine, up to a first degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in the Florida Department of Corrections and a $10,000 fine. If you’ve been arrested for Fleeing to Elude or are a suspected of this charge, you are facing very serious felony charges and should employ an experienced Tampa criminal lawyer as soon as possible. The attorneys at The Mayberry Law Firm have consistently earned excellent results for our clients facing these kinds of charges. We understand the allegation and the penalties involved and can ensure that you get the best possible result for your case considering your individual circumstances.

Potential Penalties

Depending on the circumstances in a Fleeing to Elude allegation, an individual will be charged with varying levels of a felony. The harshest of all penalties could be the collateral fact that unless your Fleeing charge is reduced or you enter a pretrial diversion program, you will be Adjudicated guilty and will therefor become a convicted felon.

• Any person who ignores an order to stop by a police officer or stops and then flees faces a third degree felony.
• Any person who willfully flees a police officer in a marked police car with lights and siren engaged commits a felony of the third degree
• Any person who willfully flees a police officer in a marked police car with lights and siren engaged and in doing so travels at a high speed with a wanton disregard for the safety of others commits a second degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
• Any person who willfully flees a police officer in a marked police car with lights and siren engaged and in doing so travels at a high speed with a wanton disregard for the safety of others and causes serious bodily injury or death to another commits a first degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. This particular situation further calls for a mandatory minimum of 3 years in prison.
• Any person who in the process of illegally leaving the scene of an accident having knowledge of a lawful police order to remain, causes injury or property damage to another commits a second degree felony.
• Any person who in the process of illegally leaving the scene of an accident having knowledge of a lawful police order to remain, causes serious bodily injury or death to another commits a first degree felony.

If you’ve been charged with Fleeing to Elude or Aggravated Fleeing to Elude in Tampa or a surrounding county you must contact a qualified criminal attorney today. Our attorneys are ready to zealously defend you today. Contact us at 813-444-7435 as soon as possible.