January 3, 2025 | Ohio Law
You might consider running from the police if you are in trouble. However, there are numerous potential consequences for avoiding the police. Before you flee from or fail to comply with the police, you should know the possible consequences you could face if you commit this crime.
Failing to Comply with Police Officers in Ohio
Ohio Revised Code §2921.331 makes it a crime to fail to comply with any lawful direction or order of a police officer. It is also illegal for a person to operate a vehicle to flee or elude a police officer willfully. Additionally, Ohio criminal codes make it illegal to resist arrest.
Examples of fleeing police officers or resisting arrest include, but are not limited to:
- Driving away in a vehicle
- Hiding from police officers
- Running away from police officers
- Concealing your identity
- Fleeing a crime scene
- Trying to leave the state
- Failing to stop when ordered to do so by a police officer
- Physically resisting arrest
The legal consequences of avoiding the police in Ohio can be severe. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you could be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony offense.
Numerous factors impact the charges for avoiding the police. Factors include the method used to avoid the police, the underlying crime, and whether someone is injured because you attempted to flee from the police.
Potential Penalties for Evading the Police in Ohio
Failing to comply with a lawful order or direction from a police officer is generally a misdemeanor of the first degree. The potential penalties for a conviction include:
- Up to 180 days in jail
- A maximum fine of $1,000
- Court costs
- Suspended driver’s license for six months to three years
- Up to five years of probation
- Six points on your Ohio driver’s license
Eluding and fleeing the police can be a felony charge under certain circumstances, including if you flee the police after committing a felony. You may also be charged with a felony if operating a motor vehicle while avoiding the police caused someone serious injury.
A felony offense increases the fines and jail time. A felony conviction also has numerous collateral consequences, including the loss of gun rights, trouble finding a job, imperiled immigration status, and negative impacts on child custody cases.
What Are the Potential Defenses to Charges of Avoiding the Police in Cincinnati, OH?
Before pleading guilty to criminal charges, speak with a criminal defense attorney about potential defenses to charges of evading and fleeing the police. Defenses may include:
- You acted under duress or coercion.
- You did not intentionally disobey the police officer’s orders.
- You misunderstood or were not aware of the police officer’s orders.
- You acted because of an emergency or necessity.
- You were falsely accused of the crime.
- The arrest was unlawful because the officers lacked probable cause or violated your constitutional rights.
- You were acting in self-defense, such as protecting yourself from excessive force by an officer.
A strong defense can result in dismissal of the charges or a reduction in the sentence. It also helps when negotiating a plea bargain with the prosecutor.
What Should You Do if You Are Charged with Avoiding the Police in Ohio?
Fleeing the police only adds to the criminal charges. You can be charged with evading and eluding, failing to comply with police officers, and resisting arrest. Additionally, fleeing from officers escalates the situation, which could result in life-threatening situations.
While you might want to run, it is better to deal with the situation with the help of an Ohio criminal defense lawyer. If you are arrested, keep the following in mind:
- Do not make a statement or answer questions without an attorney present. Talking to the police without a lawyer can make the situation worse.
- As soon as possible, contact an attorney to discuss your case. If you have a hearing with a judge before you can speak with a lawyer, plead not guilty and request legal counsel.
- Do not discuss your case with anyone other than a lawyer.
- If you are released on bail, follow the terms of your release. Do not try to contact anyone involved in your case.
If you need legal help after an arrest, contact an attorney.
Contact the Cincinnati Criminal Defense Attorneys at Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers For Help Today
For more information, contact the criminal defense attorneys at Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers give us a call today at (513) 333-0014 or visit us at our Cincinnati Law Office.
Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers – Cincinnati
600 Vine Street, Suite 1004
Cincinnati, OH 45202
United States
