by Attorney Eric D. PuryearThe crimes of Fleeing and Eluding and Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding are defined by Illinois law in 625 ILCS 5/11-204 and 625 ILCS 5/11-204.1 as discussed below. It is important o note that fleeing and eluding and aggravated fleeing and eluding are serious criminal charges, rather than a traffic tickets.
Fleeing or attempting to Elude a peace officer in Illinois
(a) Any driver or operator of a motor vehicle who, having been given a visual or audible signal by a peace officer directing such driver or operator to bring his vehicle to a stop, wilfully fails or refuses to obey such direction, increases his speed, extinguishes his lights, or otherwise flees or attempts to elude the officer, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. The signal given by the peace officer may be by hand, voice, siren, red or blue light. Provided, the officer giving such signal shall be in police uniform, and, if driving a vehicle, such vehicle shall display illuminated oscillating, rotating or flashing red or blue lights which when used in conjunction with an audible horn or siren would indicate the vehicle to be an official police vehicle. Such requirement shall not preclude the use of amber or white oscillating, rotating or flashing lights in conjunction with red or blue oscillating, rotating or flashing lights as required in Section 12-215 of Chapter 12.
(b) Upon receiving notice of such conviction the Secretary of State shall suspend the drivers license of the person so convicted for a period of not more than 6 months for a first conviction and not more than 12 months for a second conviction.
(c) A third or subsequent violation of this Section is a Class 4 felony.
Aggravated Fleeing or attempting to Elude a peace officer in Illinois
(a) The offense of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer is committed by any driver or operator of a motor vehicle who flees or attempts to elude a peace officer, after being given a visual or audible signal by a peace officer in the manner prescribed in subsection (a) of Section 11-204 of this Code, and such flight or attempt to elude:
(1) is at a rate of speed at least 21 miles per hour over the legal speed limit;
(2) causes bodily injury to any individual;
(3) causes damage in excess of $300 to property;
(4) involves disobedience of 2 or more official traffic control devices; or
(5) involves the concealing or altering of the vehicle’s registration plate.
(b) Any person convicted of a first violation of this Section shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. Upon notice of such a conviction the Secretary of State shall forthwith revoke the driver’s license of the person so convicted, as provided in Section 6-205 of this Code. Any person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this Section shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony, and upon notice of such a conviction the Secretary of State shall forthwith revoke the driver’s license of the person convicted, as provided in Section 6-205 of the Code.
(c) The motor vehicle used in a violation of this Section is subject to seizure and forfeiture as provided in Sections 36-1 and 36-2 of the Criminal Code of 2012.
As can be seen from the penalties, a fleeing and eluding charge or aggravated fleeing and eluding charge in Illinois is a serious matter that result in jail, prison, a loss of a person’s driver’s license, and even the seizure of a person’s vehicle. Handing such a case is of great importance, so a person facing any fleeing or eluding charge is well advised to seek an attorney at once.