Evading a Police Officer

It’s a common sight in movies and TV shows: the police pull a driver over and start to write him a ticket, only to have the driver gun his engine, drive off, and leave the police helpless. As with much of what you see on TV, it’s not advisable to try that in real life. Evading a police officer (NRS 484B.550) is a serious crime in Las Vegas Nevada, and depending on the circumstances, a conviction could put you behind bars for many years. You need to consult with an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can tell you your options.

Evading a Police Officer The Charges

A prosecutor levels charges of evading an officer if he thinks he can prove that you intentionally eluded or tried to elude the police when you knew they were trying to stop you. The details of the situation are critical, because they can determine whether you face misdemeanor or felony charges, carrying a possible prison sentence and fines of thousands of dollars. For example, if the officer thought you were drunk, you could face one to four years in prison. If someone was injured by your vehicle during the incident, you face a minimum two years and a maximum twenty years in prison.

Intention

At Weiner Law Group, we understand the best way to approach your case to get it thrown out as quickly as possible. The key to defending against most evasion cases is showing that the defendant may not have known that the police wanted you to stop. If the police did not use both lights and sirens, they did not correctly signal you to pull over. Even if they did use lights and sirens, there is the possibility that you could not have been expected to hear and see them under the current conditions. The prosecutor has the responsibility to prove not only your action, but also your intention, in order to win a conviction.

Sometimes, a police officer thinks that a driver is trying to evade them when, in fact, he is simply looking for a safe place to pull over. Drivers who are unfamiliar with the city of Las Vegas and are dealing with the stress of a traffic stop can easily get confused and appear to be driving irresponsibly.

Your Record

Even if you only face minor misdemeanor charges, it’s worth the effort to get a criminal defense lawyer who is experienced in evading police officer charges, on your side. It’s probably easier than you think to get the charges dropped, and you can avoid a mark on your criminal record, not to mention paying fines and spending time in jail. Call us and set up a consultation to tell us your story. We will defend your rights and do everything in our power to get your charges dropped.

Call 702-202-0500 or fill out our contact form if you have been arrested for evading an officer and need a criminal defense attorney.