Police car chases are often thrilling when they are part of a movie plot. In real life, they are terrifying for anyone who happens to be nearby. There have been cases of police officers causing crashes or even injuring pedestrians because they focus so intently on their chases.
Chases interfere with the flow of traffic and can prompt irrational, dangerous behavior on the part of those attempting to evade law enforcement officers. Both Illinois state law and police department policies limit the conduct of officers during car chases.
What rules restrict police conduct during car chases?
While some rules exist on a department-to-department basis, one of the most critical rules is actually part of Illinois state law. Police officers should only engage in a motor vehicle chase when the offense that occurred is serious enough to warrant the risk posed by a car chase scenario.
Officers must consider the potential danger to the public generated by a chase as opposed to the risk caused by the suspect fleeing without ending up in state custody. Typically, traffic infractions and minor property crimes are not serious enough to justify car chase pursuits, with an exception for drunk driving offenses.
If a chase occurs, police officers should make every effort to drive in a manner that reflects traffic density, weather and road conditions. Unless a supervisor at the police department provides explicit authorization, the chase should generally only involve one or two police vehicles.
Additionally, only those in vehicles with emergency lights and sirens can conduct a chase, and they must keep the lights illuminated and the sirens engaged throughout the chase process. If police officers know who the suspect is, then a chase is likely not necessary because officers can apprehend them later.
If a police officer can no longer communicate with other vehicles or dispatch, they should stop chasing the suspect. Additionally, they must halt chase efforts immediately if an outside party ends up hurt.
There are also restrictions on maneuvers and the amount of force used. For example, Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuvers are only legal when performed at lower speeds. The maneuver is considered a form of deadly force at speeds over 40 miles per hour. When police officers disregard the laws that pertain to them and the restrictions on chase activities, other people can end up injured.
Both egregious civil rights violations and willful and wanton misconduct on the part of police officers can potentially warrant legal action on the part of those affected. Reviewing what transpired during a police chase with a skilled legal team can potentially help injured individuals hold officers accountable for their unnecessary and dangerous conduct.
