Resisting And Fleeing
Wis. Stat. 946.41 — resisting or obstructing an officer, false information included, a Class A misdemeanor
Resisting or obstructing. Knowingly resisting or obstructing an officer who is acting in an official capacity and with lawful authority is a Class A misdemeanor in Wisconsin.
A false name is obstructing. "Obstructs" includes knowingly giving false information to the officer, or placing physical evidence meant to mislead. When that false information or evidence is considered at a criminal trial that convicts an innocent person, the offense is a Class H felony.
Resisting that causes substantial bodily harm or a soft tissue injury to an officer is a Class H felony, and great bodily harm a Class G felony.
A driver who has a visible or audible signal to stop from an officer or a police vehicle the driver knows, or reasonably should know, is being operated by an officer, and knowingly fails to stop as promptly as safety reasonably permits, may be fined up to $10,000 or imprisoned up to 9 months, or both.
| Fleeing or eluding, by willful disregard of the signal | Offense |
|---|---|
| Fleeing or eluding, by willful disregard of the signalNo injury or damage | OffenseClass H felony |
| Fleeing or eluding, by willful disregard of the signalBodily harm to another, or damage to another's property | OffenseClass G felony |
| Fleeing or eluding, by willful disregard of the signalGreat bodily harm to another | OffenseClass E felony |
| Fleeing or eluding, by willful disregard of the signalDeath of another | OffenseClass D felony |
Sources for this section (3)
- Wis. Stat. 946.41 — Resisting or obstructing officer
- Wis. Stat. 346.04 — Obedience to traffic officers, signs and signals; fleeing from officer
- Wis. Stat. 346.17 — Penalty for violating sections 346.04 to 346.16
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Wisconsin attorney.