Should high speed chases by police be banned? What criteria should we use to decide?

[DrPepper12]

If the vehicle plates are known (99% of cop cars have dashcam) is there really any reason to chase them immediately?

Obviously if their crime is a violent felony that is a factor but almost ALL chases are the result of a initial traffic stop or at worst robbery (yes that could be violent felony but the vast majority of robberies only threaten violence, not inflict actual violence).

From the FBI:

Successful restrictions: Cities like Milwaukee, Los Angeles, and Orlando have restricted chase policies and have not seen corresponding spikes in crime.

Alternative technology: Some police departments are using GPS tracking units that can be fired onto a fleeing vehicle, allowing officers to disengage from a high-speed chase while still tracking the suspect. In one set of case studies, 80% of speeders were still apprehended using this method.

Widespread fatalities: More than one person is killed every day on average in police pursuit crashes.

Risk to bystanders: Most of those killed in police chases are not the fleeing drivers. 25-40% involved uninvolved third parties.

Disproportionate harm: Black people are 4x more likely to be killed in police pursuits than white people.

Traffic violations: The majority of pursuits begin because of a minor traffic or property-related offense.

Fatal chases: From 2017 to 2022, 82% of fatal police chases started over a traffic stop. Only about 15% were for violent felonies.

Low felony arrest rate: Only 1 in 50 result in a felony arrest.

Significant failure and crash rates

High escape rate: Studies suggest that between 30% and 50% of police pursuits end with no capture.

High crash rate: An FBI analysis 35%-40% of all pursuits ended in a crash.

Ineffective deterrence: A study found that 75% of fleeing drivers said they would slow down after police disengaged.

High financial costs

Taxpayer expense: The costs of high-speed chases, including litigation and liability payouts for crashes.

Yes. Complete blanket ban 🚫. Too dangerous. Use tech / patience.

Permitted in RURAL areas ONLY

Permitted in rural & suburban areas, NOT 🚫 urban.

Permitted for violent felonies ONLY

[OneViewpoint]

OK, so one question... How low is the IQ of the 2 donut munchers in the cop car? That is my problem with allowing car chases.

[DrPepper12]

The number of donuts exceeds their IQ tbh

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Yes. Somebody innocent on the road can get seriously hurt or even killed.

Catch the criminal later.

[Telekinetic-Potato]

High speed chases should be specifically for arrest able offenses. Before the chase starts. Unless the person is driving in a way that demonstrates imparement or a development over the course of the chase demonstrates the suspect is likely to commit a felony or violent crime unrelated to the chase.

Like if the guy starts shooting. Or they identify the driver and they're part of a gang or they're chasing a bank robber and that's how it started.

Too many chases start from a guy doing an illegal left turn.

[Anonymous]

In the uk the police do high speed chases but also risk manage, end the chase quickly before the perps can hurt themselvesor others vs let them go and catch them later. If there's to much risk to public they will hang back and let the police helicopter keep track and get them later.

[DrPepper12]

Smart.

[Opinion Owner]

Police in the uk are unarmed so when they respond its more a unified strategy rather than a lone ranger situation

[Likes2drive]

Probably the first and last answer to the poll , because the high-speed chase from the police just make things worse for everyone around them because the person being chased is actually going to do more things than they would have and the police are going to cause a lot more accidents and maybe fatalities so unless it was something where they just killed somebody it’s not really worth chasing if they do have a way of tracking them down later. I know the Georgia state police will just keep chasing them no matter who gets harmed until they get the guy after major accidents and other people getting hurt

[Sal_Monella]

Yes, if you effectively ban crime first. And there's this. The Broken Windows Theory

The Broken Windows Theory identifies a pattern that visible signs of disorder; graffiti, litter, or broken windows, encourage further crime and antisocial behavior. It argues that maintaining order in communities helps prevent serious crime.

So ya gotta chase them down and apprehend them with a PIT maneuver. Even Walmart high dollar shoplifters who run when they get caught. Even you, Doc.

[DrPepper12]

And you're pro life? Unbelievable cognitive dissonance.

[boundless]

If people run, they're going to be chased. It's better police chase them, than a missile.

[DrPepper12]

Why? If plates, make, model & driver captured on dashcam why bother?

[boundless]

A car isn't a person. People steal cars and people wear masks... The person committing the crime has to be apprehended.

[DrPepper12]

Like I said a far far majority of chases result from a traffic stop. Traffic stops are almost always a registered or authorized driver.

[boundless]

There is no way to know until you apprehend the criminal. It would be unjust to just arrest the owner of the car, because their car happened to be used in a crime. If I broke into your home when you were out protesting because you're not getting your food stamps and I shot your neighbor from your bedroom window, should the police arrest you and charge you with murder?

[boundless]

Did you commit the crime, just because your house was used in the crime? Shouldn't the police purse the real suspect in the crime, or should you just do the time.

[FunkyMonkee]

What'd you want them to do, run after them on foot?

[DrPepper12]

Not chase them. Catch them later, drone, helicopter, vehicular disable via tech, etc.

[FunkyMonkee]

Happens every day!

[exitseven]

lets limit them to violent felonies and liberals.

[DrPepper12]

If you have RAS or PC then have at it!

[msc545]

Ban these altogether. They are farr too dangerous and the perpetrators can be caught later.

[BonzoInBitburg]

They're banned in Canada

[DrPepper12]

As they should be

[JesseP1nk]

I think it is better way to do than police chase. Use drones to follow a suspect and then ambush them with cars.

[chrissykerdock]

arresting someone is impolite