or vessel; violation of subsection (1); fleeing and eluding as felony; penalty; suspension of
license; revocation; conviction and sentence under other provision; definitions.
Sec. 479a.
(1) An operator of a motor vehicle or vessel who is given by hand, voice, emergency light,
or siren a visual or audible signal by a police or conservation officer, acting in the lawful
performance of his or her duty, directing the operator to bring his or her motor vehicle or
vessel to a stop shall not willfully fail to obey that direction by increasing the speed of the
vehicle or vessel, extinguishing the lights of the vehicle or vessel, or otherwise attempting to
flee or elude the police or conservation officer. This subsection does not apply unless the
police or conservation officer giving the signal is in uniform and the officer's vehicle or vessel
is identified as an official police or department of natural resources vehicle or vessel.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (3), (4), or (5), an individual who violates subsection
(1) is guilty of fourth-degree fleeing and eluding, a felony punishable by imprisonment for not
more than 2 years or a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (4) or (5), an individual who violates subsection (1) is
guilty of third-degree fleeing and eluding, a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more
than 5 years or a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both, if 1 or more of the following
circumstances apply:
(a) The violation results in a collision or accident.
(b) For a motor vehicle, a portion of the violation occurred in an area where the speed limit
is 35 miles an hour or less, whether that speed limit is posted or imposed as a matter of law or,
for a vessel, a portion of the violation occurred in an area designated as "slow—–no wake",
"no wake", or "restricted" whether the area is posted or created by law or administrative rule.
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(c) The individual has a prior conviction for fourth-degree fleeing and eluding, attempted
fourth-degree fleeing and eluding, or fleeing and eluding under a current or former law of this
state prohibiting substantially similar conduct.
(4) Except as provided in subsection (5), an individual who violates subsection (1) is guilty
of second-degree fleeing and eluding, a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than
10 years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00, or both, if 1 or more of the following
circumstances apply:
(a) The violation results in serious impairment of a body function of an individual.
(b) The individual has 1 or more prior convictions for first-, second-, or third-degree fleeing
and eluding, attempted first-, second-, or third-degree fleeing and eluding, or fleeing and
eluding under a current or former law of this state prohibiting substantially similar conduct.
(c) The individual has any combination of 2 or more prior convictions for fourth-degree
fleeing and eluding, attempted fourth-degree fleeing and eluding, or fleeing and eluding under
a current or former law of this state prohibiting substantially similar conduct.
(5) If the violation results in the death of another individual, an individual who violates
subsection (1) is guilty of first-degree fleeing and eluding, a felony punishable by
imprisonment for not more than 15 years or a fine of not more than $15,000.00, or both.
(6) Upon a conviction for a violation or attempted violation under subsection (2) or (3), the
following apply:
(a) If the individual was operating a motor vehicle, the secretary of state shall suspend the
individual's operator's or chauffeur's license as provided in section 319 of the Michigan
vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.319.
(b) If the individual was operating a vessel, the individual's privilege to operate a vessel
shall be suspended for a period not to exceed 5 years.
(7) Upon a conviction for a violation or attempted violation under subsection (4) or (5), the
following apply:
(a) If the individual was operating a motor vehicle, the secretary of state shall revoke the
individual's operator's or chauffeur's license as provided in section 303 of the Michigan
vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.303.
(b) If the individual was operating a vessel, the individual's privilege to operate a vessel
shall be revoked for a period of not less than 5 years.
(8) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a conviction under this section does not
prohibit a conviction and sentence under any other applicable provision for conduct arising out
of the same transaction. A conviction under subsection (2), (3), (4), or (5) prohibits a
conviction under section 602a of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.602a, for
conduct arising out of the same transaction.
(9) As used in this section:
(a) "Prior conviction" means:
(i) For a violation of this section while operating a motor vehicle, the person had a previous
conviction for a violation of this section while operating a motor vehicle or a previous
conviction for fleeing and eluding under a current or former law of this state prohibiting
substantially similar conduct while operating a motor vehicle.
(ii) For a violation of this section while operating a vessel, the person had a previous
conviction for a violation of this section while operating a vessel.
(b) "Serious impairment of a body function" means that term as defined in section 58c of
the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.58c.
(c) "Vessel" means that term as defined in section 80104 of the natural resources and
environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.80104.
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(10) This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Lieutenant Donald Bezenah law".§ 750.479aFailure to obey direction of police or conservation officer to stop motor vehicle
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