What Happens When Someone Flee After a Traffic Stop

Drivers have a responsibility to stop when a police officer pulls them over. Ignoring a traffic stop is not only illegal but can lead to serious consequences. In many cases, if a driver tries to flee from a traffic stop, they will face legal repercussions. This article will explore what happens when someone tries to escape after a traffic stop and the potential outcomes.

Chasing a Fleeing Driver

When a driver fails to stop for a police officer and drives away, the situation can escalate quickly. Law enforcement is likely to give pursuit to the fleeing vehicle. The pursuing officer will try to identify the driver and vehicle involved. Despite the initial attempt to escape, there are several reasons why fleeing a traffic stop is a bad idea:

The fleeing driver risks a ticket or citation, even if they don't get caught.

Even if they manage to avoid immediate capture, the pursuing officer will still know the license plate and description of the vehicle.

Chances of being caught increase significantly once the pursuing officer uses resources like traffic camera footage and police scanners to locate the vehicle.

As soon as the vehicle is identified, law enforcement can set up roadblocks or continue to pursue the vehicle until it is stopped.

Legal Consequences of Fleeing from a Traffic Stop

Fleeing from a traffic stop is often charged as an additional offense, known as eluding police or eluding an officer. This can be a serious criminal charge that carries significant penalties, depending on the jurisdiction. In some cases, fleeing a traffic stop can result in:

A criminal record for the fleeing driver.

Heavy fines and possible imprisonment.

Loss of driving privileges or a permanent ban from driving.

Probation or community service.

Chances of Avoiding Detection

It’s important to note that even if the fleeing driver thinks they have successfully evaded capture, they are still in trouble. Law enforcement has a variety of tools and resources at their disposal to track the vehicle and identify the driver:

License Plate Readers: Modern police vehicles are equipped with license plate recognition systems that can track and report the location of the vehicle in real-time.

Law Enforcement Databases: Police officers have access to databases that include vehicle and driver information, which can help in identifying the offender.

Dashboard Cameras: Dash cams can record license plates and vehicle descriptions as they pass by, providing invaluable evidence.

In addition, if the driver chooses to evade law enforcement and continue their escape, they are likely to cause traffic accidents, which can result in additional legal complications, including:

Increased fines and penalties for causing an accident.

Accusation of reckless driving or endangerment of public safety.

Legal action against victims of any accidents caused during the flight.

Criminal Offense of Eluding Police

Eluding police is a serious offense, even if the fleeing driver is never caught. In many places, this offense is classified as a felony. Some jurisdictions may treat it as a more severe crime, such as:

Aggravated Eluding: This can occur if the fleeing driver engages in dangerous driving behavior, such as speeding, evading, or intentional reckless driving that endangers the public.

Felonious Eluding: This term is often used in states like California, where eluding police can be charged as a felony if it results in significant harm to the public or property.

The penalties for eluding police can vary widely, and may include:

Long-term imprisonment: In severe cases, the fleeing driver may face multiple years in prison.

High fines: Depending on the severity of the offense, the fleeing driver could face thousands of dollars in fines.

Community service: In lieu of or in addition to fines, the fleeing driver may be required to perform community service.

Lifetime driving ban: In some cases, the fleeing driver may be permanently banned from driving.

Conclusion

Ignoring a traffic stop and fleeing from a police officer is a highly risky and illegal action. It is in the best interest of the driver to cooperate with law enforcement at the scene of a traffic stop. The consequences of trying to escape can be severe, and may result in criminal charges, fines, and a lifetime ban from driving. It’s always better to stay calm, cooperate, and address any issues at the traffic stop rather than putting yourself and others in danger by fleeing.