Sponsor Statement for SB 300

Fleeing a Police Officer

I respect and admire our peace officers who every day put their lives on the line for the citizens of Alaska. From Anchorage to Unalaska, whether local law enforcement or state troopers, these officers daily face uncertain dangers, while protecting Alaskans.

The majority of Alaskans are law-abiding citizens, but there are elements of our society who need a reinforced message.

Just pick up any newspaper or turn on any news channel and you’ll see it - someone fleeing a police officer, often at high rates of speed - terrorizing or injuring pedestrians and other drivers.

This legislation separates that failure to stop into two categories:

1. ^{failure to stop in the second degree - when a person knowingly fails to stop as soon as is practical and safe; and}
2. ^{failure to stop in the first degree - when a person knowingly fails to stop AND violates another law, ordinance or traffic regulation.}

Police departments nationwide are reviewing and modifying their high speed chase policies and when to discontinue a chase. The public is still at risk for persons who continue fleeing at a high rate of speed even after the chase has been discontinued. Making failure to stop in the first degree a Class C felony reflects the serious danger these drivers create.