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When someone’s spotted driving recklessly, is it wise to chase that driver at 95 mph? Or would it be wiser to let them go, and arrest the driver tomorrow?

  • aelwero@lemmy.worldEnglish
    917·
    9 months ago

    Can’t really arrest someone tomorrow just because their car was speeding today… Could have been anyone driving.

    That approach will almost definitely lead to some owners being threatened with all manner of shit like obstruction, interfering, etc. if they don’t throw someone under the bus. You shouldn’t be subjected to that shit just for letting someone borrow your car.

    Non-pursuit should never be a public policy, that’s an incentive. Non-pursuit should be a discretionary option, and anyone who can’t handle that simple of a risk assessment doesn’t need to be given a badge.

    The right answer is to just let it go. The ego that prevents this from happening is like 90+% of the current police issues

    • rockSlayer@lemmy.worldEnglish
      122·
      9 months ago

      The possibly of there being problems with banning chases is enough reason to allow existing harm to continue?

    • Doug Holland@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      53·
      9 months ago

      I agree most of the way, often preach the same sermon, but you’ve said it better than I do.

      With reckless driving, it’s a gamble either way. Maybe I’d have to see it, see how reckless it is. If cops let 'em drive away, and the reckless driver gets into a wreck and hurts or kills someone, the PD is probably open to a lawsuit. If the chase 'em, though, a wreck seems even likelier. The real problem is, cops so often seem to have so little common sense, they can’t be trusted to assess the risk. I think they often chase because wheeee it’s fun.