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Bill to toughen penalties for fleeing police draws questions about data and alternatives
Summary
Sponsor Sen. Bill Ganon and Capt. Matt Amatuchi justified SB 409 as a public‑safety response to rising vehicle pursuits; committee members pressed for underlying data, demographics, injury counts, and targeted alternatives such as licensing sanctions or judicial safety valves.
Senate Bill 409, presented by Sen. Bill Ganon, would raise penalties for failing to stop for law enforcement and escalate some pursuit‑related offenses to felony status where injuries or deaths occur. Captain Matt Amatuchi of the New Hampshire State Police told the committee pursuits have risen dramatically since 2017 and argued stronger criminal sanctions are warranted to protect the public and officers.
Capt. Amatuchi cited a substantial percentage increase in pursuits since 2017 and said elevated penalties would better reflect the danger posed by high‑speed chases. Members asked for concrete underlying numbers, demographics of drivers who flee, injury counts, and whether alternatives such as administrative license actions, graduated penalties based on speed or harm, or improved public education could be effective.
Several legislators urged consideration of a judicial ‘‘safety valve’’ or clearer prosecutorial/judicial discretion so that young drivers or those with mitigating circumstances are not automatically branded with a felony for a split‑second decision. Capt. Amatuchi said administrative license actions already exist but that a felony label carries a different deterrent effect.
What’s next: Capt. Amatuchi offered to provide more exact pursuit and injury statistics. The committee took testimony and will decide whether to advance the bill or seek narrower options that couple criminal penalties with education and administrative sanctions.
