Attempt to Elude an Officer in Maryland
In Maryland, it is illegal to leave the scene of a car accident. This is equally true in cases where no one is injured. A person’s failure to follow this law can result in serious legal consequences. Attempt to elude an officer in Maryland is a common criminal offense.
An attempt to elude occurs when an officer indicates that they are trying to pull someone over and they accelerate or try to move away from the officer. As defined by Maryland law, an attempt to elude an officer is considered failing to stop when an officer tries pulling them over. If someone is accused of showing no intention to agree to the officer’s demand to stop, they may benefit from the advice of a skilled criminal attorney.
Responsibilities of Those Involved in a Collision
Maryland law specifies what a person must do in the event of a car accident. Whenever someone is involved in a car accident they are legally obligated to stop their vehicle assuming it is safe to do so. As stated under the Maryland Transportation Code the driver is obligated to exchange contact and insurance information. If there has been property damage or an injury, anyone involved is obligated to call the police and file a formal accident report.
Penalties Associated with Leaving an Accident
An attempt to elude an officer in Maryland, otherwise known as leaving the scene of an accident can result in jail time if property damage is involved. The individual can face up to 60 days and a possible $500 fine. A conviction for leaving the scene can also result in eight points being added to someone’s driving record.
The associated punishment can be harsh for someone convicted of leaving the scene of a car accident that caused injuries to another person. The law says that those convicted of this crime face a possible five years behind bars and a $5,000 fine. Beyond these penalties, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) can enforce a 12-point penalty on someone’s driving record which can lead to a revocation of someone’s driver’s license.
Maryland criminal law says that a person who is involved in a fatal accident and fled the scene, knowing that there was a possibility the accident could result in the death of another person, can be found guilty of a felony. Those convicted of felony leaving the scene face a length ten-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000.
Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Accident in Maryland
The most serious kind of traffic incident is one that proves deadly. In these cases, some drivers might become panicked, worried about what they’ve done and afraid of punishment. As a result, some people are tempted to flee the accident scene, a decision that nearly all come to deeply regret. Choosing to leave the scene of a fatal accident succeeds only in making an already bad situation much worse and will likely lead to jail time for the fleeing driver.
Though many people may not understand their specific obligation under Maryland law, most realize that they should stay at the scene of an accident in the event of a fatality. Maryland’s law is clear that in the event of a serious accident where someone has been injured, drivers are required to call the police and remain at the scene until the police have arrived and begun an accident report. Failure to do so will only exacerbate any pending legal troubles.
Importance of Making Safe Traffic Stops
If someone is on a busy one-way street, it is important that they have the ability to pull over safely. Failure to stop at a reasonable time and not pulling over for safety reasons could be construed as eluding to the law enforcement officer. It may be critical to seek the advice of a traffic attorney about how to try avoiding a charge for attempt to elude an officer in Maryland.
