New bill makes fleeing police a criminal act
Last Updated: Monday, February 7, 2000 | 10:13 PM ET
CBC News
The bill, expected to pass through the Senate in a few weeks and become law, imposes tough penalties:
- fleeing in a motor vehicle from police: up to five years in jail
- injuring someone in the process: up to 14 years in jail
- killing someone in the process: up to life imprisonment
The bill, introduced by Ontario MP Dan McTeague, would be the first private member's bill to successfully change the Criminal Code.
It was pioneered by Sgt. Rick McDonald, a police officer from Sudbury, Ontario. He visited Parliament Hill just over a year ago to lobby for laws cracking down on criminals who start police pursuits.
McDonald died in July while putting a spiked belt across a highway to try to stop a driver on the run from police.
In response to the bill, McDonald's wife said, "I'm very proud to know that my husband's death won't be in vain and that the streets will be safer."
The federal bill follows Ontario legislation proposed in November suggesting increased penalties for drivers who flee police. That legislation was dubbed the Sgt. Rick McDonald Act.
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