The next time you decide not to stop for the cops, you may want to think again.
In a 6-3 vote Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it is now a violent felony to flee the police.
Justice Anthony Kennedy delivered the opinion of the Court, saying “Risk of violence is inherent to vehicle flight.”
Kennedy also wrote that “When a perpetrator defies a law enforcement command by fleeing in a car, the determination to elude capture makes a lack of concern for the safety of property and persons of pedestrians and other drivers an inherent part of the offense. Even if the criminal attempting to elude capture drives without going at full speed or going the wrong way, he creates the possibility that police will, in a legitimate and lawful manner, exceed or almost match his speed or use force to bring him within their custody. A perpetrator’s indifference to these collateral consequences has violentóeven lethalópotential for others. Flight from a law enforcement officer invites, even demands, pursuit. As that pursuit continues, the risk of an accident accumu- lates. And having chosen to flee, and thereby commit a crime, the perpetrator has all the more reason to seek to avoid capture.”
You can read more about the case here and here.
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