A person commits a criminal offense (crime) if they intentionally flee from a person they know or should know is a peace officer or federal special investigator attempting to lawfully arrest or detain them. A person will be subject to higher penalties if they use a motor vehicle or watercraft while evading arrest or detention, or cause injury to another person. This criminal offense is also known as “fleeing and eluding.”
In South Carolina, fleeing from law enforcement is considered a serious offense. Under South Carolina law, specifically South Carolina Code of Laws Section 56-5-750, it is illegal for a person to willfully fail to stop when signaled by a law enforcement vehicle with sirens and lights activated. This applies to individuals who know or should reasonably know that they are being asked to stop by a peace officer or federal special investigator. The offense becomes more severe if the individual uses a motor vehicle or watercraft to flee or evade arrest, or if their actions result in injury to another person. The penalties for such an offense can include fines, imprisonment, and the suspension of the individual's driver's license. The severity of the penalties typically increases with the seriousness of the conduct and the consequences of the flight, such as property damage, injury, or risk to public safety.