Dallas has become increasingly plagued by reckless illegal street races held in residential neighborhoods, very often until late in the evening. The City Council decided that it was time to pass an ordinance that would give #lawenforcement more tools to effectively deal not only with racers, but also spectators and organizers of these events. The ongoing discussion has raised pertinent questions about whether the city should review its "No Chase" policy that forbids police from pursuing vehicles unless a very serious risk is involved. Should this policy be revoked, allowing police to chase suspects without an aggravated reason? The answer is no, as there are plenty of other options available.
Hazardous pursuits between police and law breakers often put the general public at risk. There have been instances when innocent motorists, bystanders, and pedestrians have been killed because the person being chased panicked and lost control of their vehicle. Police, although trained, could also crack under pressure in prolonged vehicle pursuits - after all, it takes only a fraction of a second for a car to crash or swerve out of control. Police pursuits only make sense when the benefit of apprehending a suspect outweighs the risk of death or injury. It would make very little sense for police to speed through high traffic areas if the offense in question were something as minor as shop-lifting, for example.
That said, allowing suspects to get away scot free doesn't sit well with many. What could be some other possible alternatives? For one, police could back off from giving pursuit, and communicate with law enforcement departments in other jurisdictions that the offender is likely to be headed to. The vehicle could be stopped as soon as the suspect enters the next jurisdiction. For this to work, an open line of communication between departments is critical. Agencies could also share information databases such as photos, license plate numbers, and addresses of repeat offenders.
Another possible solution is for the police to use tire deflation devices such as tire shredders, spikes, and stop sticks. These devices have effectively been used to impede wheeled vehicles from speeding on. Some time ago, police in Rhode Island used a tire deflation device to apprehend a man who allegedly stole a truck. This is a much safer option that does not put the general public or the police force at risk.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety has yet another alternative to police pursuits. The highway patrol department employs the StarChase technology whereby a projectile is fired from the police vehicle onto the fleeing offender's vehicle. Once implanted, the projectile starts transmitting its location data via a GPS satellite signal. Officers are then able to track the vehicle's movement via a web browser. Even if the suspect discovers the projectile, it is not easy to take off.
When alternatives to high speed police chases have worked in other places without endangering lives, there is no reason that Dallas should not explore some of these options.
