Crime of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle modification to add a heightened penalty for fleeing in a culpably negligent manner

SF 323 amends Minnesota law to create a new felony charge for drivers who flee police officers while operating a vehicle in a culpably negligent manner - defined as driving recklessly and creating an unreasonable risk of death or serious injury to others. It specifically targets cases where drivers knowingly flee officers but operate vehicles with reckless disregard for safety, adding a distinct penalty category under Minnesota Statutes § 609.487, subdivision 3a. This new offense carries a potential sentence of up to four years in prison or an $8,000 fine, separate from existing fleeing penalties. The bill modifies license revocation rules for such offenses and takes effect August 1, 2025, applying to crimes committed after that date.