this is why we wear seatbelts

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: this is why we wear seatbelts

He bought his ticket. Very lucky no one else got hurt.

Sadly, if they eliminate chases, people will just always run and know they can get away... What to do...

[StukaJU87]

Re: this is why we wear seatbelts

rjohnstone, I understand your position on this. I must tell you though, firing on a moving vehicle, especially one speeding on the highway, is a no-no. We are taught not to do it solely to stop an offender. Many things can go wrong. A stray bullet. The criminal being struck with the bullet and then hitting into innocent victims. Once the bullet leaves your weapon, you own it and everything that it causes.

There are very few instances where it would be justified, eg: the criminal is driving at the officer intending to run him down, and the officer has no alternative but to fire in self defense, and even that can be dicey. We had an officer lose her job over just this type of thing. It was a long hard fight for her to get her job back.

Granted, I am not Highway Patrol or a street cop, but this is what we are taught as law enforcement officers. Bill was a street cop, he should be able to enlighten you a bit.

[YetAnotherOne]

Re: this is why we wear seatbelts

They're testing some new devices out here in California that use an air cannon on the police cruiser to attach a tracker to the vehicle they want to pursue so they can just back off and pick the perps up when they stop.

[StukaJU87]

Re: this is why we wear seatbelts

[ QUOTE ]
They're testing some new devices out here in California that use an air cannon on the police cruiser to attach a tracker to the vehicle they want to pursue so they can just back off and pick the perps up when they stop.

[/ QUOTE ] I also saw a cool thing on a show once that is fired from the cop car, then goes under the criminal's car and delivers a shock or something to disable the ignition. Don't know what became of it.

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: this is why we wear seatbelts

well, at some point, they will be using onstar to disable a vehicle enough to come to a safe stop. If they can unlock your door from a satellite, they can make it run bad and slowly stop. Just a matter of making the cars identifiable to the cops so they can call it in to onstar... I've heard a few ways they want to do it.

[OnlineStageGear]

Re: this is why we wear seatbelts

[ QUOTE ]
I dunno, innocent people getting killed in high speed police pursuits needs to stop. No point in high speed chasing someone who flees for something as simple as expired license, its just stupid imho.

[/ QUOTE ]

But that sends the message that all you have to do is gun it when you see a cop behind you and he won't chase you. That will cause a lot more people to do it and certainly cause more accidents injuries and deaths.

BTW, as soon as you attempt to evade the police in most states, you have just commited a felony, so you are no longer a simple traffic infraction.

Matt

[RacerX]

Re: this is why we wear seatbelts

[ QUOTE ]
They're testing some new devices out here in California that use an air cannon on the police cruiser to attach a tracker to the vehicle they want to pursue

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup, the smart dart:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=1576247


Although they didn't address what happens when the suspect jumps out, rips the thing off, and continues on. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[Shawn Lutz]

Re: this is why we wear seatbelts

I'm not saying let just them go, that would be stupid...no need to aggressively pursue them...back off a bit, no need to force anything. No need rush it, the guy is gonna get caught either way so why does it have to be right now? They have radios, they have other cars, they have helicopters. Seems to me it would be much cheaper to do it the safe way than all the lawsuits that can happen from cop cars running into innocent civilians.

[OnlineStageGear]

Re: this is why we wear seatbelts

[ QUOTE ]
I'm not saying let just them go, that would be stupid...no need to aggressively pursue them...back off a bit, no need to force anything. No need rush it, the guy is gonna get caught either way so why does it have to be right now? They have radios, they have other cars, they have helicopters. Seems to me it would be much cheaper to do it the safe way than all the lawsuits that can happen from cop cars running into innocent civilians.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am all for safer ways to catch someone.

[quadperson]

Re: this is why we wear seatbelts

One less zit on the ass of society.

[MBreinin]

Re: this is why we wear seatbelts

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'm not saying let just them go, that would be stupid...no need to aggressively pursue them...back off a bit, no need to force anything. No need rush it, the guy is gonna get caught either way so why does it have to be right now? They have radios, they have other cars, they have helicopters. Seems to me it would be much cheaper to do it the safe way than all the lawsuits that can happen from cop cars running into innocent civilians.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am all for safer ways to catch someone.

[/ QUOTE ]

Its called a sidewinder.

That's what cops need.

Mike

[rjohnstone]

Re: this is why we wear seatbelts

[ QUOTE ]
rjohnstone, I understand your position on this. I must tell you though, firing on a moving vehicle, especially one speeding on the highway, is a no-no. We are taught not to do it solely to stop an offender. Many things can go wrong. A stray bullet. The criminal being struck with the bullet and then hitting into innocent victims. Once the bullet leaves your weapon, you own it and everything that it causes.


[/ QUOTE ]
I understand the reasons... I was just venting a bit.
These idiots deserve what they get, but it's the innocent bystander that always gets hurt and the cops that get sued.
I still fail to see why the police get sued for doing their job. I know it was some ambulance chasing lawyer that thought this one up. They know the criminal has no cash, so they will sue the city, county or state agency because they had the balls to pursue a crook. How dare they chase that bad person [img]/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]. Never mind the fact that it was the criminal who broke the law and caused the situation in the first place.
I know we have some attornies here and I hope they realize my comments are not directed at them or the profession in general.
As for this little moron in the video... HE is the ONLY one to blame for what happend. Not the cop who was chasing him or the helicopters that were following above.

As for my other subject of red light runners, I'm seriously looking into ways of giving a police officer the abilty to arrest and charge them with a felony. I'll hound every city councilman and state legislator I have to to get it on the books. Right now it's just a $95 ticket and 3 points on your license.
Phoenix is the worst city in the US for red light runners and it's down right scary sometimes just to go to the store.

[hippietim]

Re: this is why we wear seatbelts

[ QUOTE ]
If they can unlock your door from a satellite, they can make it run bad and slowly stop.

[/ QUOTE ]

Onstar: "Hello scumbag. This vehicle's Yugo mode has been engaged. Have a nice day. You bastard."

[hippietim]

Re: this is why we wear seatbelts

imagine if the dude that stole the car was chuck norris. he'd be super pissed at all the folks that messed up his new ride and think of all those vehicles he would have had to kick the crap out of as they headed for him as he was flying across the highway. a lot of people would have had to die.

[Badseed]

Re: this is why we wear seatbelts

Yugo mode, classic.


On a side note, i heard this guy recieved his severence pay.