Depending on the circumstances in which the charge of disregarding a police officer was obtained there can be several different penalties, fines and even in some cases misdemeanor or felony charges. The charges occur when a driver fails to obey a visual or verbal signal by a police officer to bring the vehicle to a stop or to move the vehicle as requested by the officer. Typically these charges are seen when a driver attempts to escape or elude a police officer in a vehicle. They can also occur if the police officer is uniform and is escorting a funeral procession.
Each state
sets their own fines and penalties for disregarding a police officer. In most
states this is considered a serious moving violation and fines are typically
significant. In other states it can be a criminal traffic offense with options
for a trial by jury and jail time if convicted based on the driver's previous
record. Depending on the situation from which the offense occurred the fine can
be up to $1000.00 and jail time of up to 90 days or both.
Since being
found guilty on this type of a criminal traffic charge can result in jail time,
it also may significantly impact on insurance rates as well as your ability to
find work where driving is required. In addition in most states there is some
requirement for surrender of the license for a period of time as determined by
the court.
A very significant issue, disregarded police officer charges require a skilled attorney on your side. Not only will this charge impact on your insurance and driving record, but it can also result in jail time. This leaves the driver with both a criminal record as well as a driving record, both which can cause future issues for years to come.