Aggravated Fleeing From An Officer

Legal Definition

A person commits aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer when they willfully and recklessly drive a motor vehicle while attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, and the flight causes bodily injury to another person, causes property damage exceeding $1,000, or involves driving at high speed or in a manner that endangers the public. The offense requires that the officer's vehicle display a visible red light or siren and that the driver knowingly flee despite a clear signal to stop.

Possible Punishment

Basic sentence of 18 months imprisonment; fine up to $5,000. Upon release, a mandatory two-year period of parole supervision applies. The court may also impose driver's license revocation. If the fleeing results in great bodily harm to another person, the offense may be charged as a Third Degree Felony with a basic sentence of 6 years.

Criminal Traffic Cases in Doña Ana County

Not every traffic offense is a ticket. Driving on a suspended or revoked license, reckless driving, and fleeing an officer are criminal charges that end in booking rather than a citation, and they appear constantly in our feed. Suspended-license charges in particular tend to snowball: unpaid fines lead to suspension, driving anyway leads to arrest, and missing the court date adds a bench warrant.

Criminal traffic cases are heard in Las Cruces Municipal Court for city violations and Doña Ana Magistrate Court for state charges. If alcohol or drugs are involved, the case moves into DWI territory with its own mandatory penalties.

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