Speed Contest and Two Types of Eluding in Arapahoe County
Racing your friends in Arapahoe County in your car can amount to misdemeanor charges and some serious points against your license. Racing away from a police officer in Douglas County, can land you in prison. Let’s look at why.
Engaging in a Speed Contest in Douglas County – A Lawyer’s Definition
Engaging in a Speed Contest in Parker or Castle Rock is a class 1 traffic misdemeanor, with a potential 12 points against your drivers license. It’s definition is located at C.R.S. 42-4-1105:
“It is unlawful for a person to knowingly engage in a speed contest on a highway.” “Highway” has a pretty broad definition.
Jefferson County, Colorado Vehicular Eluding Attorney: Felony Vehicular Eluding Definition
There are two types of Eluding in Colorado, and one of them is a felony. Vehicular Eluding is defined at C.R.S. 18-9-116.5, as:
“Any person who, while operating a motor vehicle, knowingly eludes or attempts to elude a peace officer also operating a motor vehicle, and who knows or reasonably should know that he or she is being pursued by said peace officer, and who operates his or her vehicle in a reckless manner, commits vehicular eluding.”
Note the words, “in a reckless manner”. This is what separates the felony version of Vehicular Eluding from the misdemeanor Eluding. If no one is injured, it is a class 5 felony. With injury to someone from a collision, you can be facing either a class 4 or class 3 felony. If you are going to run from police, do it safely and not in a reckless manner, or the penalty skyrockets. More on the Different Types of Eluding in Colorado.
Eluding Police in Adams County: Defense Attorney for a Misdemeanor, C.R.S. 42-4-1413
If you don’t drive in a reckless manner, Eluding and Attempt to Elude a Police Officer in Adams County is a much lesser class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense. You get this charge if you flee from a police officer, knowing that the police officer was trying to pull you over. No reckless driving is involved. Emergency lights or siren are important, so that the officer can say that you knew they wanted you to stop.
When you are arrested or charged with Vehicular Eluding, Engaging in a Speed Contest, or Eluding, don’t give any statement to police – keep quiet. Then, call the best Denver criminal defense attorneys from our office at 303-731-0719. Together, we can protect your future.