Walk It Through: The Chase
Heedless driving, eluding a signal, and resisting an announced arrest.
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. Resisting by force, risk of death in a pursuit, and vessels 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.
- Degree of crimeHow the code grades a crime, from first degree down to fourth. A crime of the third degree carries between three years and five years and a fine up to $15,000.00.
- Disorderly persons offenseThe grade below the crimes, punishable by not more than 6 months and a fine up to $1,000.00.
- EludingKnowingly fleeing or trying to elude an officer after a signal to stop, in a vehicle or vessel: a crime of the third degree, or the second if it creates a risk of death or injury.
- Resisting arrestPurposely preventing, or trying to prevent, an arrest, graded by how: by other means a disorderly persons offense, by flight a crime of the fourth degree, by force or threat of force a crime of the third degree.
- Reckless drivingDriving heedlessly, in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others, in a way that endangers or is likely to endanger a person or property.