In a move aimed to curb the perils of dangerous police chases, the Oklahoma Senate has passed a bill to ratchet up the legal consequences for those who collide with destiny while trying to slip the grip of the law. Senate Bill 871, steered through legislative corridors by Senator Aaron Reinhardt, now stands as the Senate's testament to tougher justice, according to a press release from the Oklahoma Senate.
The bill ushers in the inclusion of accidents causing great bodily injury during a chase in the roster of 85% crimes, a category reserved for the most serious offenses, necessitating that offenders serve most of their sentence before parole is on the table. Previously, the scale of justice for this transgression teetered between one year and five years, the bill now brings a heftier balance to bear, setting the minimum at five years, and, stretching the maximum to seven.
"This legislation is about protecting the public and ensuring that those who endanger lives by recklessly fleeing from law enforcement face serious consequences," Senator Reinhardt said in the statement cited by the Oklahoma Senate's press release. The escalation of penalties aims to plant a flag of deterrence upon the frequently treacherous terrain of high-speed pursuits.
