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In DuPage County alone, cases of fleeing police have increased
over the past three years by 151%, but state Sen. Seth Lewis,
R-Bartlett, said police departments all over Illinois are
experiencing motorists refusing to pull over for a traffic stop.
“We are seeing those who are fleeing and trying to elude law
enforcement officers in high-speed chases,” said Lewis at a news
conference Wednesday. “It’s a problem.”
Senate Minority Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, said anyone
fleeing police in Florida is charged with a Class 3 felony and a
$5,000 fine. Curran’s legislation in Senate Bill 1807 would
increase the penalty in Illinois to a Class 4 felony.
“In Illinois, we continue to keep it at a misdemeanor level.
It’s not working,” said Curran. “If it was working, we would not
see this increase in situations where people are recklessly
fleeing from the police.”
A Class 4 felony conviction in Illinois would result in one to
three years prison time. The measure allows for stricter
penalties for aggravating factors and charges a person with a
Class 3 felony which could come with five years behind bars.
“It is really raising the consequence and one of the most
important paths forward to curbing this behavior that is a
growing epidemic all throughout the suburbs and metros areas
throughout this state,” said Curran.
The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police supports the
legislation.
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