A bill from state Rep. Rylee Linting that keeps communities safe and offers a strong deterrent for those who choose to flee from law enforcement was advanced today by the House Judiciary Committee.

“People fleeing from the police is a huge problem across Michigan and throughout our Downriver communities. It’s something that unfortunately is in the news almost constantly,” said Linting, of Grosse Ile Township. “When this happens, people drive recklessly through neighborhoods, school zones, busy intersections, and other places where there is immense danger to the public and law enforcement officers who are in pursuit. People are killed or get seriously hurt. We need to give our police, prosecutors and judges the tools they need to hold people accountable for these actions, and this bill is needed step.”

House Bill 4690 establishes new, mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines within Michigan’s fleeing and eluding laws. The bill maintains the four current levels of fleeing and eluding offenses. A first-degree offense, which is the most elevated, would carry a minimum of five years imprisonment under Linting’s legislation. A fourth-degree offense would have a 30-day minimum if an offender has a prior conviction of fleeing and eluding.

When introducing the bill in June, Linting noted that fleeing and eluding has frequently impacted communities she represents in the Michigan House. Earlier this year, two Southgate police officers who responded to a call with a third officer were shot and wounded by a man who fled from the area before being arrested a few hours later. Wyandotte Chief of Police Archie Hamilton last year called for stricter laws for fleeing police and said his department had been involved in dozens of high-speed police pursuits. One high-speed chase lasted for nearly 20 minutes and went through five cities.

“Nobody in the state has been going to prison for flee and elude alone,” Hamilton said when testifying before the House Judiciary Committee with Linting last month. “I’ve had the luxury of interviewing dozens and dozens of people who have fled from the police. They do view this as a free pass to go commit whatever criminal activity they choose. They will actually make the chase more dangerous. They will intentionally go into oncoming traffic. They’ll intentionally increase speeds and intentionally find congested areas to increase the danger because they think there’s no consequence.”

“Stronger sentencing guidelines will protect innocent people and their families and keep more from becoming victims,” Linting said. “Local law enforcement and prosecutors have consistently called for more leeway to curb this dangerous conduct, and it’s time we act on those concerns.”

HB 4690 now moves to the full House for consideration.

PHOTO INFORMATION: State Rep. Rylee Linting testifies on House Bill 4690 before the House Judiciary Committee on Aug. 27. Linting was joined in testimony by Wyandotte Police Chief Archie Hamilton. The bill was advanced on Wednesday by the committee.