TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida lawmakers need to improve penalties for many who attempt to get away from regulation enforcement.
On Saturday, the Florida Freeway Patrol chased a person in South Tampa, who authorities say stole an ambulance. Additionally they stated he’d been consuming.
In January, 8 On Your Aspect sat down with Dan LaFontaine and his son, who had simply been in a automobile wreck. LaFontaine had simply picked up his son from college when a person working from police in a stolen automobile crashed into them and one other automobile.
“We’re all very lucky — even the motive force, even the perpetrator is fortunate to be alive. As a result of it was carnage; it was complete destruction. I’ve by no means seen something like that,” LaFontaine stated. “You’ve got harmless bystanders like myself who had been simply coming from choosing up my son from college and had no concept what was about to happen.”
Home Invoice 113 would deal with individuals fleeing or trying to elude police.
Consultant Ryan Chamberlin, who proposed the invoice, had his workplace reply questions over e-mail.
“This laws raises the scoring so {that a} second offense is obligatory jail time, relating to the high-speed chase facet particularly,” they stated. “Home Invoice 113’s meant purpose is to discourage and cut back the quantity of particular person’s fleeing from regulation enforcement officers, which can in the end save lives.”
Pursuit Security, a bunch working to stop tragedies of police pursuits, stated the invoice wants so as to add the steadiness of public security.
“We at all times want to bear in mind not solely the security of the general public typically, however the individual that we’re chasing,” stated Thomas Gleason, Pursuit Security Advisory Board Member. “If it isn’t a forceable felony. If it isn’t a gun concerned. If it isn’t a rape, theft, or an abduction of a kid or one thing alongside these strains, Pursuit Security feels prefer it does not rank the danger that comes from that pursuit.”
LaFontaine stated police have a tricky job, and stated he understands how chases are at all times a danger. However he want to see this invoice change into regulation.
“I would say I am completely for it,” LaFontaine stated. “If there have been extra extreme prices it might reduce down police chases.”
If handed, the regulation would go into impact Oct. 1, 2025.
