1.3 Vehicle Pursuits

Guidelines

Vehicle Code §17004.7(c)(1): Determine under what circumstances to initiate a pursuit. The policy shall define a “pursuit,” articulate the reasons for which a pursuit is authorized and identify the issues that should be considered in reaching the decision to pursue. It should also address the importance of protecting the public, balancing the known or reasonably suspected offense, the apparent need for immediate capture against the risks to peace officers, innocent motorists, and others to protect the public.

Pursuit Defined

A vehicle pursuit is an event involving one or more law enforcement officers attempting to apprehend a suspect operating a motor vehicle while the suspect is attempting to avoid arrest by using high-speed or other evasive tactics such as driving off a highway, turning suddenly, or driving in a legal manner but willfully failing to yield to the officer’s signal to stop.

Factors to be considered, including but not limited to:

• Protection of public safety
• Initial reason for the stop
• The apparent need for immediate capture balance against the risks to peace officers, innocent motorists, and others to protect the public
• Passengers in the officer's vehicle (e.g., citizens, witnesses, prisoners)
• Passengers in the suspect's vehicle (e.g., passengers, minors, co-offenders, hostages)
• Vehicular or pedestrian traffic safety and volume
• Location of pursuit (e.g., school zone, playground, residential, downtown, interstate, work zone)
• Dangerous driving of the suepect that creates an unreasonable risk to the public

Driving Tactics

• Spacing (distance between vehicles)
• Clearing intersections
• Passing
• Paralleling
• Trailing

Continuation or Termination of Pursuit

• Ongoing evaluation of risk to the public or pursuing peace officers
• Weather Conditions
• Traffic Conditions
• Speeds
• Availability of air support