In Yuma County Court, Morgan County Court, Logan County Court, and the rest of Eastern Colorado, if a person tries to out-run or quickly hide from a police officer, it can result in an Eluding a Police Officer or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer charge. Eluding can often be an accident and mistake by a driver not knowing the police were trying to pull them over or not noticing the officer was there. However, it can result in a big fine, time in the Weld County Jail or even a sentence to the Colorado State Prison. Facing charges of Eluding or Attempting to Elude in Fort Collins or Larimer County? Get help here.
Legal Definition of Eluding or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, C.R.S. 42-4-1413, in Colorado
In Colorado, the definition of Eluding or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, C.R.S. 42-4-1413, is:
Any operator of a motor vehicle who the officer has reasonable grounds to believe has violated a state law or municipal ordinance, who has received a visual or audible signal such as a red light or a siren from a police officer driving a marked vehicle showing the same to be an official police, sheriff, or Colorado state patrol car directing the operator to bring the operator’s vehicle to a stop, and who willfully increases his or her speed or extinguishes his or her lights in an attempt to elude such police officer, or willfully attempts in any other manner to elude the police officer, or does elude such police officer, commits a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense.
It is important to know that any attempt to elude an officer can result in being charged. A person does not have to successfully elude the police to be charged. An Eluding or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer charge can be added to any other charge that was the reason for the traffic stop.
What is the Difference Between Eluding or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer and Vehicular Eluding, C.R.S. 18-9-116.5, in Lincoln, Kit Carson, or Washington County?
The definition of Vehicular Eluding, C.R.S. 18-9-116.5, in Lincoln, Kit Carson, or Washington County is:
Any person who, while operating a motor vehicle, knowingly eludes or attempts to elude a peace officer also operating a motor vehicle, and who knows or reasonably should know that he or she is being pursued by said peace officer, and who operates his or her vehicle in a reckless manner, commits vehicular eluding.
Vehicular Eluding occurs when a defendant is driving in a reckless manner, while Eluding the Police. Attempting to Elude or Eluding a Police Officer is a lesser charge if it can be proven that the driving was not acting dangerous or reckless while Eluding. A Skilled criminal defense attorney can learn the details of your case and argue persuasively for the lesser charge. If you are facing a Vehicular Eluding charge, you could go to prison since it is a Colorado class 5 felony. Learn more about Vehicular Eluding here.
In Logan County, Washington County and Eastern Colorado, What are the Penalties and Sentence for Attempting to Elude or Eluding of a Police Officer?
The sentence in Logan County and Eastern Colorado for Eluding or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, is a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense. The penalties for a conviction could be $150 -$300 in fines, 10-90 days in a jail and it is permanently on your record. While this may not seem like a severe penalty a criminal record, time in jail and fines can affect your personal life and career.