OLYMPIA, Wash. – A proposed bill in the Washington State Senate could lead to vehicle impoundment or forfeiture for those who flee from police. Senate Bill 5333, which received a public hearing Monday, aims to reduce dangerous police pursuits and promote public safety.
The legislation would allow police to impound vehicles involved in chases for up to 72 hours. However, a co-owner not involved in the crime could reclaim the vehicle immediately.
Additionally, repeat offenders convicted of eluding police could face permanent vehicle forfeiture, with proceeds from vehicle sales funding traffic safety initiatives. An appeals process would be available for those contesting a seizure.
The bill also requires electronic monitoring for individuals charged with eluding or resisting arrest if released before trial. If convicted, electronic monitoring would continue as a condition of community custody.
State Senator John Lovick (D-Mill Creek), the bill’s sponsor and a former Washington State Patrol trooper and Snohomish County sheriff, emphasized the dangers of police pursuits.
I think that this legislation will help deter the crime of eluding a police vehicle, reducing instances where an innocent bystander and law enforcement officers are placed in danger,” Lovick said.
Law enforcement officials support the proposal, likening it to similar penalties imposed for street racing in 2023. James McMahan, Policy Director for the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, said it could reduce the need for risky pursuits.
We believe this bill is measured policy, good for public safety, and we hope it makes our roads safer,” McMahan told the committee.
However, opponents, including criminal defense attorneys, argue that harsher penalties are unlikely to deter crime and could unfairly burden low-income individuals.
David Trieweiler of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers criticized the measure:
This will be the sixth bill to increase punishment for this crime during my legal career since 1979. Yet here we are again, thinking harsher penalties will reduce it,” he testified.
The Senate Law and Justice Committee is set to vote on the bill Thursday, ahead of Friday’s deadline for non-budget legislation to advance from committees.