HB1623

House Bill 1623 amends Arkansas Code § 5-54-125 to revise the classifications and sentencing requirements for the offense of fleeing by means of a vehicle or conveyance. The bill establishes that basic fleeing remains a Class A misdemeanor but adds a mandatory minimum jail sentence of two days. It further stipulates that if the person operates the vehicle in excess of the posted speed limit, the offense is elevated to a Class D felony and carries a mandatory minimum jail sentence of 30 days. The bill maintains existing higher-level felony classifications for fleeing that involves extreme indifference to human life or results in serious physical injury to others. The primary purpose of the legislation is to increase the penalties associated with vehicle-based flight from law enforcement.