Florida Fleeing and Eluding Lawyer Serving Palm Beach County FL

Hearing a siren and seeing flashing lights in your rearview mirror can be enough to make you panic—even when you’re doing everything right. If you’re now in a situation where you need a fleeing and eluding lawyer you aren’t alone.

The key thing for you to remember is that you have rights throughout the legal process. With a proven track record of helping clients facing these same charges Simko Law Group is here to handle the complexities and fight for your freedom.

The Definition of Fleeing and Eluding in Palm Beach County FL

Per the Florida Statutes § 316.1935 fleeing and eluding in Palm Beach County FL is defined as:

Failing or willfully refusing to stop your vehicle once law enforcement officials have ordered you to stop and/or
Stopping your vehicle but then attempting to flee from or elude the officer

In plain English when an officer communicates that they want you to pull over you’re required by law to do so. Refusing to pull over—or pulling over just to hit the gas pedal once the officer exits their vehicle—is a crime in Florida.

There are also a few subtypes of this offense. The specific details of your arrest will influence if you’re charged with one of these.

Sirens and Lights are Active

To be charged with this subtype 3 things must have occurred:

You were operating a vehicle on a public FL road or highway
You knew you were being asked to pull over but you didn’t or pulled over and then fled
The officer was in an authorized patrol vehicle with its sirens and lights active

Fleeing at High Speeds or While Driving Recklessly

This subtype requires 4 specific elements to have occurred:

You were operating a vehicle on a public FL road or highway
You knew you were being asked to pull over but you didn’t or pulled over and then fled
The officer was in an authorized patrol vehicle with its sirens and lights active
While eluding or fleeing you drove with wanton disregard for the general public or at high speeds

Causing Serious Bodily Injury or Death

As this subtype is among the most serious offenses 5 things must be proven:

You were operating a vehicle on a public FL road or highway
You knew you were being asked to pull over but you didn’t or pulled over and then fled
The officer was in an authorized patrol vehicle with its sirens and lights active
While eluding or fleeing you drove with wanton disregard for the general public or at high speeds
While eluding or fleeing you caused the serious bodily injury or death of another person which may include the officer pursuing you

Plus if you’re charged with DUI in addition to fleeing and eluding you’ll also face additional DUI penalties on top of these.

Potential Penalties for Fleeing and Eluding in Florida

The possible consequences you face for fleeing and eluding in Florida vary depending on which specific subtype you’re charged with.

For fleeing and eluding with no additional aggravating factors or with the sirens and lights active potential penalties include:

Third-degree felony conviction on your criminal record
Up to 5 years in prison
Up to 5 years of mandatory probation
Up to $5000 in fines
Suspension of your driver’s license for 1 to 5 years

If you’re convicted for fleeing and eluding at high speeds or while driving recklessly you may be sentenced to:

Second-degree felony on your criminal record
Up to 15 years in prison
Up to 15 years of mandatory probation
Up to $10000 in fines
Suspension of your driver’s license for 1 to 5 years

Finally if your charges include all of the above factors plus death or serious bodily injury of another person the possible consequences are:

First-degree felony on your criminal record
Up to 30 years in prison (mandatory minimum of 3 years)
Up to 30 years of mandatory probation
Up to $10000 in fines
Suspension of your driver’s license for 1 to 5 years

Fleeing and Eluding Defense Strategies

A few potential defense strategies for fleeing and eluding charges in Palm Beach County FL include:

Showing that you weren’t willfully fleeing but unable to stop due to extenuating circumstances
Questioning whether the officer’s vehicle had official recognizable markings and insignia
Proving the officer didn’t clearly communicate that they were attempting to stop you
Demonstrating that you didn’t know an authorized law enforcement official was trying to pull you over

Call Simko Law Group at (561) 951-1264 to speak with our fleeing and eluding lawyer about which of these defenses is best for your case.

Get Help from a Reliable Knowledgeable Fleeing and Eluding Lawyer

When you’re charged with fleeing and eluding in Palm Beach County FL you face the possibility of becoming a convicted felon. The potential penalties are life-altering—no matter what the details of your case may be.

That’s why you need to start working with a strategic dependable fleeing and eluding lawyer who can fight for your freedom as soon as possible. Contact Simko Law Group today at (561) 951-1264 for your free 60-minute case consultation.

Fleeing and Eluding Lawyer FAQs

Can you be arrested for fleeing and eluding if you didn’t intend to run from the police?

Yes you can be arrested for fleeing and eluding in Palm Beach County FL even if you didn’t intend to run from the police.

You see in order to arrest you an officer must have probable cause. This term has a fairly flexible definition—if an officer has a rational reason to believe you committed a crime they can arrest you.

That means telling the officer “I didn’t realize what was happening and I wasn’t trying to run” might be a potential defense at your trial. But it can’t prevent the police from arresting you at the scene.

Can a fleeing and eluding charge be reduced or dismissed in Palm Beach County?

Yes a fleeing and eluding charge can be reduced or dismissed in Palm Beach County under the proper circumstances. To make this happen your best bet is to hire a skilled knowledgeable fleeing and eluding lawyer.

This is a smart choice because ultimately the prosecution is going to do everything in their power to make sure you’re found guilty. When you work with one of our attorneys we put everything under a metaphorical microscope to find any errors or violations.

We then use these mistakes to for example argue a lack of valid evidence and get your charges reduced or dismissed entirely.

How do you choose the best attorney for fleeing and eluding charges in Palm Beach County?

You can choose the best attorney for fleeing and eluding charges in Palm Beach County by:

Looking not just for any lawyer but for an attorney who specializes in these charges and has great reviews (See reviews for Simko Law Group here)

And if you’re still not sure whether Simko Law Group is the right fleeing and eluding lawyer for you call us today at (561) 951-1264 for your free consultation. We’ll walk you through what to expect in your case and how we’ll strategically fight for your freedom so you can focus on what’s most important.