HB337 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ginny ShaverRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Crimes and offenses, to revise the criminal penalties for violations of fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, Sec. 13A-10-52 am'd.

Summary

HB337 would tighten penalties for fleeing or eluding law enforcement in Alabama, adding more situations that are felonies and requiring license suspension for offenders, while noting an exemption from certain local-funding rules.

What This Bill Does

It changes the penalties for fleeing from police from a baseline misdemeanor to higher felonies in specific cases. A flight or eluding act becomes a Class C felony if the officer has an arrest warrant or suspects a felony and the flight causes death or crosses into another state, or if the flight injures innocent bystanders or third parties. It becomes a Class B felony if the flight causes serious physical injury or death. Upon conviction, the court must suspend the defendant's driver's license for 6 months to 2 years. The bill is noted as exempt from local funding vote requirements because it creates or changes a crime, and it becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• People who flee from or elude a law enforcement officer, who could face Class A misdemeanor or higher felonies depending on the circumstances
• Innocent bystanders and third parties who could be harmed by a fleeing suspect, and drivers who face license suspension if convicted

Key Provisions

• Defines unlawful fleeing or eluding (when a person knows they are fleeing a law enforcement officer and when a vehicle is signaled to stop) and sets a baseline penalty of Class A misdemeanor
• Adds Class C felony penalties for certain fleeing scenarios (death or crossing state lines with an arrest warrant/suspected felony, or injury to bystanders/third parties)
• Adds Class B felony penalty if fleeing results in serious injury or death to another person
• Requires driver’s license suspension for 6 months to 2 years upon conviction
• Effective date: first day of the third month after passage and governor approval
• Local-funding note: Bill is exempt from Amendment 621/890 requirements because it defines a new crime or amends an existing one

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses