Crime of fleeing in a motor vehicle and failing to obey traffic laws established.

HF 1119 amends Minnesota law to establish a felony charge for drivers who flee or attempt to flee a peace officer while knowingly evading them and simultaneously violating specific traffic laws. It directly affects drivers who flee police and either fail to obey traffic signs/signals/markings (under MN Statutes 169.06, subdivisions 4, 4a, 4b, 5, 6, 7, or 8) or fail to stay on the proper side of the road (under 169.18). The key provision elevates this behavior to a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. The law takes effect August 1, 2025, applying to offenses committed on or after that date.