CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Conduct the first reading of the ordinance amending Section 10-8 of the Naperville Municipal Code to establish a $900 administrative fee for registered owners of motor vehicles that engage in fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer
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DEPARTMENT: Police Department
SUBMITTED BY: Jason R. Arres, Chief of Police
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
The City of Naperville has experienced an increase in motor vehicle fleeing and eluding incidents annually since 2019. See below.
* Prior to 2020 - 19 (annual average)
* 2020 - 48
* 2021 - 101
* 2022 (to date) - 80
Under the Illinois Criminal Code (625 ILCS 5/11-204) fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer occurs when any driver or operator of a motor vehicle who, having been given a visual or audible signal by a peace officer directing such driver or operator to bring his vehicle to a stop, willfully fails or refuses to obey such direction, increases his speed, extinguishes his lights, or otherwise flees or attempts to elude the officer.
The Naperville Police Department's pursuit policy is similar to most agencies not only in the area, but also in the country, as it requires a forcible felony to engage in a motor vehicle pursuit.
While these pursuit policies have been in place for many years, public knowledge that police are limited from engaging in pursuits related to minor offenses has resulted in an increase of incidents of fleeing and eluding.
Motorists who flee are disregarding traffic laws and traffic control devices/signals, speeding, disregarding stop signs, and making dangerous lane changes. All of these actions endanger other motorists traveling on roadways.
Investigation and prosecution of fleeing and eluding cases require significant police resources, including, but not limited to, multiple hours spent reviewing video, preparing police reports, conducting interviews, and conducting internal administrative reviews; often without ...
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