New bill targets people who try to flee law enforcement

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida bill would impose new mandatory minimum sentences for people who flee or attempt to elude a law enforcement officer.

Current law already poses an array of penalties for refusing to follow a law enforcement officer’s order to stop while driving a vehicle and willfully fleeing to elude an officer.

Rep. Ryan Chamberlin, R-Belleview, sponsored the legislation, HB 597.

The bill would create new mandatory minimum sentences on top of the penalties already provided in current law.

Below are the proposed penalties for people who either do not stop when a law enforcement officer gives the order, who willfully flees an officer, or who unlawfully leaves the scene of a crash after being told to stop by an officer.

• First offense: a mandatory minimum sentence of 364 days’ imprisonment.
• Second offense: a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.
• Third or subsequent offense: a mandatory minimum sentence of eight years’ imprisonment.

The bill said instead of a criminal conviction, the judge has the option to order a pretrial diversion program for a first-time offender.

At a minimum, any vehicle owned by the offender would be impounded for 30 days and the offender’s driver license must be suspended for six months.

If approved by the legislature during the 2024 Legislative Session, the bill would take effect Oct. 1, 2024.