After being involved in a car accident, a driver may feel anxious and panic. Upon realizing he or she is not hurt and the vehicle is still drivable, the motorist might attempt to flee the scene to avoid trouble. However, fleeing or eluding can bring on its own punishment if the person is eventually stopped by the police. Even if an accident has not occurred, if a driver fails to stop when a police officer is attempting to pull him or her over, the driver can face significant penalties in Illinois.

What is Fleeing and Eluding?

According to Illinois law, a person is fleeing--or eluding--if he or she fails to stop after being given a visual and/or verbal signal from a police officer attempting a traffic stop. In cases of vehicle collisions, a person must stay on the scene until the authorities arrive to investigate the accident. If a driver leaves, he or she will face a Class A misdemeanor charge.