FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 2429

                                  C 235 L 90

BYRepresentatives R. Meyers and Scott

Establishing penalties for attempts by vessel operators to elude pursuing law enforcement vessels.

House Committe on Fisheries & Wildlife

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Certain acts by operators of motor vehicles are declared unlawful. One such act is attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle.  If a driver is given a signal to stop by a uniformed officer, the driver must stop his or her vehicle.  Failure to stop can result in prosecution for a gross misdemeanor, which is punishable by not more than one year in the county jail or a maximum fine of $5,000 or both.  If the driver fails to stop and operates the vehicle in a reckless manner, the driver can be prosecuted for a class C felony.  Class C felonies are punishable by a maximum of five years in prison or a fine of $10,000 or both.

No similar prohibition exists for vessel operators that fail to stop when directed to do so by a law enforcement officer.

SUMMARY:

A vessel operator who fails to stop when directed to do so by a law enforcement officer is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.  A vessel operator who fails to stop when signaled to do so and operates the vessel in a reckless manner in attempting to elude law enforcement personnel is guilty of a class C felony.

The officer can give the signal to stop by hand, voice, or emergency light or siren.  The officer and the vessel must be appropriately marked as official law enforcement.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 98   0

      Senate    39     5

EFFECTIVE:June 7, 1990