Walk It Through: The Chase
Reckless disregard, a felony for fleeing, and passive resistance.
A young driver weaves through traffic at high speed on a busy road at night.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
One driver and one stop. Racing, aiding another's reckless driving, and resisting by creating a risk of injury are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Misdemeanor classHow Arizona grades misdemeanors: class 1 carries up to six months and $2,500, class 2 up to four months and $750, class 3 up to 30 days and $500.
- Reckless drivingDriving a vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property. A class 2 misdemeanor, and the judge may order the driving privilege suspended for not more than 90 days.
- FleeingA driver wilfully fleeing or trying to elude a pursuing official law enforcement vehicle that is appropriately marked, or unmarked where the driver knew it was law enforcement. A class 5 felony.
- Passive resistanceA nonviolent physical act or failure to act intended to impede, hinder or delay an arrest. Resisting arrest by passive resistance is a class 1 misdemeanor.