A felon for running away from police? Given how often police shoot people (and especially dogs) it’s not surprising anyone would want to get away. But making it a felony, the same as murder?
That is a major problem in this country today. There are thousands of ways to become a “felon”.
In Texas, eluding in a vehicle is as a bare minimum a Class B misdemeanor or state jail felony, first offense. A 3rd degree felony if they have ever been convicted of this before, or if someone is injured (including them) in the process. Or a 2nd degree if someone is killed by them or the police in the process.
And it is not exclusive to other applicable offenses, such as manslaughter in the last case.
They mean it.
I’ll add that I actually got to see this in practice once, while driving through West Texas. And clearly with “aggravating circumstances.” I’m just amazed how it happened in the first place.
Driving on the freeway, I see a Cadillac driving at high speed (90+) on the access, with a State Trooper close behind, lights flashing. Okay, that’s bad enough.
However, the Cadillac had New York plates, was decked out as a pimpmobile, including shag interior and fuzzy dice, and by all appearances there was a Nubian gentleman wearing a pimp suit driving.
This made me wonder at the time if someday, assuming I live to an extremely old age, if that Nubian will ever get out of prison.
It’s is a felony because it is supposed to apply to street racing. Of course the police can charge you with anything because they are criminals with a badge. If you don’t pull over quick enough, you get charged with it. Cops are azzhats who need to be avoided at all costs.