Vehicular Eluding is charged in Greeley and Weld County when a person is accused of driving in a reckless manner while trying to get away from police. A man was recently arrested for this crime, among others, after he ended up driving onto Folsom Field at University of Colorado. According to the report, the man had been involved in a few hit and run accidents – hitting trees and street signs – and law enforcement attempted to pull him over. Instead of complying, the man took off and ended up driving through the gates and onto the Colorado Buffalo’s football field before he was detained be police.
Vehicular Eluding in Weld County: How is Vehicular Eluding Charged in Colorado?
The Weld County, Colorado law definition of Vehicular Eluding – C.R.S. 18-9-116.5 – is:
There are two elements needed to charge Vehicular Eluding:
- Trying to get away from police;
- Driving recklessly.
Most often, it is argued that speeding constitutes reckless driving when talking about a Vehicular Eluding case. The fact that the man above also drove through locked gates and onto a football field would probably also constitute reckless driving.
Penalty for Eluding in Milliken and Johnstown
Vehicular eluding is a class 5 felony. This level felony is punishable by 1 to 3 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections. However, if the Vehicular Eluding results in bodily injury to another person, it is a class 4 felony, which is punishable by 2 to 6 years in DOC. If the Vehicular Eluding results in death to another person, it is a class 3 felony. The penalty for a class 3 felony is 4 to 12 years in Colorado prison.