PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. – When a new law goes into effect on Thursday, it will give police in Washington state more freedom to go after suspects.
Initiative 2113 gives police the power to go after a suspect who is running away if they have a good reason to believe that the suspect broke the law.
At the moment, police can only start a chase if they have a good reason to believe that someone in the car is committing or has committed a violent or sex crime, a vehicular assault crime, a domestic violence crime, an escape crime, or is driving while impaired.
Pierce County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Darren Moss made it clear that shoplifters will not be chased by officers after June 6. However, he gave a strong warning to car thieves and people acting recklessly, like the TikTok Kia Boyz.
“Unfortunately for you guys stealing cars, ramming them into businesses, committing all these burglaries, yes, we are going to be chasing you because, at 3 a.m. when nobody is on the road, it’s going to be reasonable, and we’re going to catch you,” said Sergeant Moss.
The main reason for this change is to stop people from acting in ways that have caused a record number of deaths on the roads. The message is clear: criminals should not feel safe if their acts put people in danger.
“As long as it’s a felony and something that creates a danger to the public, our deputies are going to do the math in their head and decide, ‘Is this enough, is this worthwhile for us to chase or not?’” said Sergeant Moss.
People who were against rolling back the rules on pursuit say that these kinds of pursuits put people in danger. From now on, each police department will be able to make its own rules for cops to follow. Seattle, on the other hand, will keep its stricter rules on pursuits, which shows that not all places will see big changes.
“We’re going to keep an eye on it.” We are going to end when it’s time. We’re not going to chase during rush hour. “Unless it’s very dangerous, like a murder suspect, we’re not going to chase through school zones,” Sgt. Moss said.
A lot of street racers got together at a warehouse on 176th St. and 51st Ave. E in Pierce County on May 26. They did burnouts, races, drank, and other risky things. When the cops arrived, the group split up and started driving recklessly. The police caught three people, including a man who was going over 100 mph. The stolen cars were towed away, and the criminals were taken to the sheriff’s office’s new mobile booking vehicle.
After ending a big street race at a warehouse in Frederickson, deputies from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office arrested several people for driving recklessly.
“Our deputies will take action if they see you acting like a fool, driving while impaired, or blocking our roads.” “Your car will be towed away, and you will go to jail,” Sgt. Moss warned.
From now on, each police department will be able to make its own rules for cops to follow. Seattle, on the other hand, will keep its stricter rules on pursuits, which shows that not all places will see big changes.
