New Hampshire SB 553: relative to penalties for attempting to elude pursuit by law enforcement.

Bill Text

SB 553-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2155

 09/08

SENATE BILL 553-FN

AN ACT relative to penalties for attempting to elude pursuit by law enforcement.

SPONSORS: Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Rep. Roy, Rock. 31; Rep. Gorski, Hills. 2; Rep. N. Murphy, Hills. 12; Rep. Crawford, Carr. 3

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

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ANALYSIS

 This bill increases the penalties for willfully attempting to elude pursuit by a law enforcement officer by increasing speed, extinguishing headlamps while still in motion, or abandoning a vehicle while being pursued.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2155

 09/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to penalties for attempting to elude pursuit by law enforcement.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 Disobeying an Officer; Penalty. Amend RSA 265:4, II to read as follows:

 II. Any person who violates any provision of paragraph I of this section may have his or her license or privilege to drive and any registrations issued in his or her name suspended. Any person who violates the provision of subparagraph I(c) by willfully attempting to elude pursuit by a law enforcement officer by increasing speed, extinguishing headlamps while still in motion, or abandoning a vehicle while being pursued shall have such license or privilege to drive and any registrations issued in his or her name suspended for a period of not less than 6 months. In addition, any person who violates the provisions of subparagraphs I(a), (b), (d), (e), or (f) of this section shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

 2 New Paragraph; Disobeying an Officer; Penalty. Amend RSA 265:4 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:

 IV. In addition to the penalties listed in paragraphs II and III, any person who violates the provision of subparagraph I(c) by willfully attempting to elude pursuit by a law enforcement officer by increasing speed, extinguishing headlamps while still in motion, or abandoning a vehicle while being pursued shall be sentenced to a term of at least 5 consecutive days in the house of corrections, which may not be suspended or deferred.

 3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.

 LBA

 26-2155

 10/14/25

SB 553-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to penalties for attempting to elude pursuit by law enforcement.

FISCAL IMPACT: 

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Revenue Fund

None

 Expenditures*

Indeterminable

 Funding Source

General Fund

 Appropriations*

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Funding Source

None

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 County Revenue

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 County Expenditures

Indeterminable

 Local Revenue

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Local Expenditures

Indeterminable

METHODOLOGY:

This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association