House panel hears testimony on bills to add mandatory minimums for fleeing and eluding

Representative Linton and Representative Mueller appeared before the Michigan House Judiciary Committee on a pair of bills, House Bill 4690 and House Bill 4691, that would add tiered mandatory minimum sentences for fleeing and eluding police.

The bills were presented as a response to what law enforcement witnesses described as an increase in high‑speed, dangerous pursuits that have caused severe injuries and fatalities. "This bill is about one thing, holding criminals accountable for endangering lives through reckless high speed attempts to evade law enforcement," Representative Linton said. "There must be consequences to putting innocent lives at risk." Deputy Police Chief Archie Hamilton of Wyandotte testified that his department has seen a sharp rise in pursuits and showed dash‑cam and body‑cam video of multiple incidents that he said resulted in severe injury or death.

The legislation would add what sponsors described as "measured tiered…