Tougher Penalties For High Speed Chases

Governor Bob Riley Police Chase A late night police chase across the Bayway a proposed law could bring tougher punishment for drivers who run from the law.

by Diana Lucio

Published: Fri, May 15, 2009 - 9:13 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, May 15, 2009 - 9:29 pm CST

We've showed you the dangerous aftermath of high speed car chases time and time again.
"It seems like once a month we have a serious high speed chase where property is destroyed and several injuries and some deaths,"said State Senator Rusty Glover (R).

Running from the law in Alabama is only a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of 6 months in jail and a 500 dollar fine. Equivalent to what some would call a slap on the wrist.
"Right now many people that perpetrate these crimes they know it's not a criminal offense and it will be a light penalty so it's almost an incentive for them to do it right now,"Said Glover.

But with the passage of a bill to increase the penalties for fleeing from police, Glover hopes perpetrators will think twice.
"If they know it's an illegal act it's a criminal act they may not do this and maybe will have a lot safer highways and a lot of these bad accidents and deaths with innocent people on the roads might be curtailed."

The bill will impose up to 1 year in prison for all offenders. Governor Bob Riley signed the bill earlier today. It will go into effect in about 90 days.

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southfan1981 Says:

Sat, May 16, 2009 at 12:23 pm

AP, there are only so many LE to cover so many exits and contengencies. You do not know what response was initiated, you do not have an inside view of what was in the CRIMINAL"s mind.

The CRIMINAL CHOSE to endanger HUNDREDS of people. Why don’t you critique him and his idiot passenger for choosing the tunnel when everyone knows if he had gone Africatown, it’s an easier drive around town!

beacon78 Says:

Sat, May 16, 2009 at 10:46 am

That makes no sense. If the guy is running from a homicide or robbery then he can just jump out before the roadblock and disappear into the night. Why do people fault police when someone decides to flee. It’s not their fault. That person made the decision to flee not the police. I agree if it is something minor and innocent lives are in danger then it is not worth the chase. The roadblock thing is just not an option because there are too many escape routes orthe guy can just do a u-turn. People don’t just flee for no reason. It’s almost always because they did something wrong.

Alabama Patriot Says:

Sat, May 16, 2009 at 6:44 am

Whatever happened to the saying that you might outrun the police car, but you can never outrun the police radio? Doesn’t it make sense for the police to use their radios and set up roadblocks ahead of the fleeing vehicle and block all exits? I guess the police get so caught up in the thrill of the chase that they forget about using their radios.