With the help of a skilled Detroit fleeing and eluding lawyer, a simple mistake may not lead to a felony conviction. If you are being charged with fleeing and eluding the police after a misunderstanding, contact Davis Law Group at (313) 818-3238 as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
Michigan Law Against Fleeing & Eluding
Under Section 750.479a of the Michigan Penal Code, as a driver, you must come to a stop when you are directed to do so by the police either through a hand signal, voice command, siren, emergency lights, or another visual or audible signal by an officer.
It is unlawful for you to:
- Fail to stop
- Increase the speed of the car
- Turn off the vehicle’s lights
- Attempt to flee or elude the police in any way
But despite this law, it isn’t always clear when you can be charged with fleeing and eluding.
What Constitutes Fleeing & Eluding Under Michigan Law?
Fleeing and eluding does not require speeding away from the police and causing a high-speed chase. If you continue to drive at the posted speed limit, even for a short distance, you can be charged with fleeing and eluding.
Previously in Michigan, a man who drove slowly for over a mile to find a lit parking lot to stop for the police at 2 a.m. was charged with fleeing and eluding. Upon more scrutiny, the charges were dropped. However, not before prosecutors had attempted to convince the driver to accept a plea deal that would have given him a criminal record and affected his career and educational loans.
As can be seen, it’s imperative to have a trusted criminal defense attorney by your side who can help you fight back against fleeing and eluding charges you’re facing in Michigan. Failure to retain an attorney who genuinely cares for your future and well-being could make all the difference in the outcome of your case.
