H-1893              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2188

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Kremen and P. King

Read first time 3/1/89 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to attempting to elude a law enforcement vessel; adding a new section to chapter 88.02 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 88.02 RCW to read as follows:

          Any operator of a vessel who willfully fails or refuses to immediately bring his or her vessel to a stop and who operates his or her vessel in a manner indicating a wanton or willful disregard for the lives or property of others while attempting to elude a pursuing law enforcement vessel, after being given a visual or audible signal to bring the vessel to a stop, shall be guilty of a class C felony.  The signal given by the law enforcement officer may be by hand, voice, emergency light, or siren.  The officer giving the signal shall be in uniform and the officer's vessel shall be appropriately marked, showing it to be an official law enforcement vessel.