For more information on the Valentine’s Law and media coverage, click here.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – In a significant move towards bolstering public safety and recognizing the sacrifice of law enforcement officers, a group of dedicated Missouri lawmakers and esteemed members of the law enforcement community will convene this week to announce the introduction of a groundbreaking legislative proposal. This initiative, aptly named "Valentine's Law," pays homage to the memory and service of fallen St. Louis County Police Detective Tony Valentine, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty.
Scheduled to take place on Valentine’s Day this week in Detective Valentine’s honor, the press event will feature Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, House Speaker Dean Plocher, State Representative Justin Sparks, Senators Tracy McCreery and Nick Schroer, as well as key members of the Law Enforcement Legislative Coalition (LELC). Below are the details for the press conference:
Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Missouri State Capitol - House Lounge, 3rd Floor
The proposed legislation, HB 1692, sponsored by State Representative Justin Sparks, aims to classify fleeing from law enforcement while committing a crime as a felony offense. The bill establishes the offense of aggravated fleeing from a stop or detention of a motor vehicle.
Valentine's Law aims to make it a felony for individuals who knowingly evade law enforcement during an attempted vehicle stop. The bill assumes someone is fleeing if they continue driving after seeing emergency lights or hearing a siren. The proposed Valentine's Law stands as a testament to Missouri's commitment to public safety, serving as both a protective measure for law enforcement officers and a tribute to those, like Detective Tony Valentine, who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
3241S.01I 1 AN ACT To amend chapter 575, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the offense of aggravated fleeing a stop or detention of a motor vehicle, with penalty provisions. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows: Section A. Chapter 575, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 575.151, to read as follows: 575.151. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as "Valentine's Law". 2. A person commits the offense of aggravated fleeing a stop or detention of a motor vehicle if he or she knows or reasonably should know that a law enforcement officer is attempting to detain or stop a motor vehicle, and for the purpose of preventing the officer from effecting the stop or detention, he or she flees and: (1) Such person operates a motor vehicle at a high speed or in any manner which creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury or death to any person; (2) As a result of such flight causes physical injury to another person; or (3) As a result of such flight causes death to another person. 3. A person is presumed to be fleeing a vehicle stop or detention if he or she continues to operate a motor vehicle after he or she has seen or reasonably should have seen clearly visible emergency lights or has heard or reasonably should have heard an audible signal emanating from the law enforcement vehicle pursuing him or her. 4. It is no defense to a prosecution pursuant to subsection 2 of this section that the law enforcement 2 officer was acting unlawfully in making the arrest. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to bar civil suits for unlawful arrest. A person need not know the basis for the arrest, detention, or stop, only that the person was being stopped or detained. 5. The offense of aggravated fleeing a stop or detention in violation of subdivision (1) of subsection 2 of this section shall be a class D felony, without eligibility for probation, parole, or conditional release until the defendant has served no less than one year of such sentence. The offense of aggravated fleeing a stop or detention in violation of subdivision (2) of subsection 2 of this section shall be a class B felony. The offense of aggravated fleeing a stop or detention in violation of subdivision (3) of subsection 2 of this section shall be a class A felony.
