Nobody likes to get in trouble, so if you see the flashing red and blue lights in your rear-view mirror or the cops come to break up that house party, your first instinct may be to attempt to get away. You may have a pretty good chance at getting away with it too, especially considering police are told to avoid high speed chases as it endangers the public, but the consequences for getting caught are sever, so think twice before you flee. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at what constitutes fleeing police and the penalties for doing so in Minnesota.
When Can You Be Charged With Fleeing The Police?
Before we get into the penalties and some examples of fleeing the police, let’s take a look at how Minnesota defines the act:
Whoever, for the purpose of avoiding arrest, detention, or investigation, or in order to conceal or destroy potential evidence related to the commission of a crime, attempts to evade or elude a peace officer, who is acting in the lawful discharge of an official duty, by means of running, hiding, or by any other means except fleeing in a motor vehicle, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
In other words, if you are trying to evade the police for any reason, be it on foot or by vehicle, you can be charged with fleeing the police. Moreover, if the officer or another other individual is hurt as a direct result of your decision to flee, you can face additional charges.
Some common examples of fleeing a police officer include:
- Running out of a house party when police are on the scene.
- Accelerating when you notice a police officer pull out behind you with their lights on.
- Failing to stop at a police checkpoint.
- Driving away from police on an ATV or snowmobile when they have requested that you stop.
One key with all of the above situations is that your actions need to be conducted while knowing or have reason to believe police want to stop and talk to you. If you do not notice police behind you or attempting to flag you down on your ATV, you can offer a legitimate defense in court. However, if you don’t notice the officer and they catch up to you and you still pretend not to see them or you choose to ignore their commands to stop, you can be charged with fleeing the police.
Penalties For Fleeing The Police In Minnesota
We don’t recommend running from the police, but if you are going to do it, please do so on foot, as the penalties are much less severe when a vehicle is not involved. Those who flee on foot in Minnesota will face a misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $1,000.
If a vehicle is involved, the potential penalties will skyrocket in a hurry. Fleeing in a vehicle is considered a felony offense, punishable by up to three years in jail and fines up to $5,000. If someone is injured as a result of your attempt to flee, those penalties can increase to seven years in jail and fines up to $14,000. If your actions result in someone’s death, those penalties will again increase, and you’ll face up to 40 years in prison and fines up to $80,000.
Needless to say, it’s not a good idea to flee police, and the consequences can stack up in a hurry if someone is hurt as a result of your actions. Instead of running from police, run towards an experienced legal team who can help you beat the charges. In the greater Twin Cities area, choose Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm at (952) 224-2277.
