It might sound odd, but I don’t think these laws are always effective.
When events like arrests or car accidents occur, they trigger our brain’s Amygdala, which controls our fight, flight, or freeze responses. For example, some people involved in car accidents have fled out of fear, not malice. I don’t think the lawfully considers these instinctive reactions.
Of course, there are instances where people resist or flee not out of fear but to evade consequences. In those cases, I get the charges. But I think laws need to be adjusted to better account for uncontrollable fear responses, even though it’s tough to differentiate between fear-driven and deliberate actions.
While I have a strong interest in science and applying scientific principles to all areas of governance, and though my political views are very progressive, I must disagree with this approach. If we apply this reasoning to our laws and justice system, it would mean ignoring punishment for violent crimes. After all, anyone who has an adrenal gland, experiences hunger, or has a natural sex drive—essentially everyone—could claim that crimes like rape and theft are driven by biological instincts.
So, where do we draw the line? We can’t argue that the fight-or-flight response justifies hit-and-run accidents but not murder; it’s the same underlying impulse in both cases.
Repealing these laws would be a really bad idea. Picture this: if there were no consequences for trying to avoid arrest, things would get chaotic. If a police officer pulled you over, you could just ignore them and keep driving. If they tried to detain you, you could simply run away. If someone committed domestic violence, they might just try to fight with the police. Clearly, this would be a disaster. The police need the legal power to enforce the law effectively.
Even if you manage to escape after being pulled over for speeding or reckless driving, you can still face charges for the original reason you were stopped. The escape itself might lead to more serious charges, but it’s a common reaction for people with low impulse control.