Source: http://vincenzeslaw.com/46-2-817-virginia-eluding-law-explained-criminal-attorney-fairfax/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 04:24:17+00:00

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Virginia Code 46.2-817 is a unique statute, in that depending upon the facts and circumstances, the consequences may vary tremendously: eluding can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony.
On this page, our Fairfax traffic lawyer and Northern Virginia traffic defense attorney explains this law. This statute may also implicate other charges, such as driving while intoxicated (DWI); reckless driving; driving while revoked or suspended; and issuance/service of outstanding arrest warrants.
of visual or audible signal from law enforcement officer to stop.
The statute does have a built-in defense: if one “reasonably believes” he or she was chased or pursued by someone who was not a police or law enforcement officer, he or she can use this as an affirmative defense.
First, there are two categories of felonies for purpose of this statute/law: eluding is usually a Class 6 felony, but as described below, may be a Class 4 felony in very serious cases.
Eluding in Virginia can be a Class 6 felony if the driver disregards the law enforcement official’s visual or audible direction to stop, and in doing so, interferes with, endangers the officer, or endangers another person.
A Class 6 felony is the least serious degree of felony in Virginia. A Class 4 felony is more serious. In Virginia, eluding is punished as a Class 4 felony (as opposed to a Class 2 misdemeanor or Class 6 felony) if a law enforcement officer is killed as a result of the pursuit.
Many times, this charge is brought against a defendant with other charges. For example, a person may be charged with the original offense that prompted the pursuit to begin with.
I was charged with felony eluding, but no one was injured. Should I be charged with a misdemeanor instead?
Read more about 4th Amendment issues on our site.
Assume an officer has no basis to stop a driver — no actual traffic infraction prior to the stop. Assume the driver disregards the signal to stop, and instead proceeds for some time before stopping the car in a ditch and fleeing on foot.
Is it eluding to avoid a traffic checkpoint or DUI roadblock?
driver reverses direction in order to evade a checkpoint.
the check point is 500 feet away.
the driver is located one intersection beyond the checkpoint.
One question that comes up from time to time is jurisdiction and venue. If a police chase spans through various counties, where is the proper county or city to file the charge (and where the defendant must appear in court)?
The speed increased above 100 mph during the pursuit.
The defendant was not in control, not signaling.
Learn more about traffic offenses from award winning Fairfax reckless driving lawyer, Brent Vincenzes.
 See Coleman v. Commonwealth, 52 Va. App. 19, 660 S.E.2d 687 (2008).
 See Kirby v. Commonwealth, No.0494-02-2, 2003 Va. App. LEXIS 154 (Ct. of Appeals Mar. 25, 2003).
 Greene County. Paytes v. Commonwealth, No. 2681-02-2, 2004 Va. App. LEXIS 80 (Ct. of Appeals Feb. 17, 2004).
 Wolford v. Commonwealth, 2006 Va. App. LEXIS 513 (Nov. 14, 2006).
 Phelps v. Commonwealth, 49 Va. App. 265, 639 S.E.2d 689, 2007 Va. App. LEXIS 21 (2007).
 Bass v. Commonwealth, 259 Va. 470, 525 S.E.2d 921 (2000).
 Gray v. Commonwealth, 50 Va. App. 513, 651 S.E.2d 400, 2007 Va. App. LEXIS 396 (2007).
 Hall v. Commonwealth, No. 1731-11-2, 2012 Va. App. LEXIS 306 (Ct. of Appeals Oct. 2, 2012).

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