# Can anyone justify car chases? (involving the police) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 29, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462 "2002-12-29T03:42:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/61 "2002-12-30T01:35:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lurkernomore \* > \*\*ass kicking is a long way from summary execution. Add a couple of years on the sentence? Good idea. Judge/jury/executioner? no. \*\* NO !!! The courts let people out WAY before they are supposed to now. Not until the courts get their act together will amount of time called for getting a whole lot closer to timed served will the addition of just time do any good. Not saying I agree or disagree with shooting them on site of capture. Just talking about if adding time will really do any good. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/62 "2002-12-30T01:41:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GusNSpot \* > \*\*NO !!! > > The courts let people out WAY before they are supposed to now. Not until the courts get their act together will amount of time called for getting a whole lot closer to timed served will the addition of just time do any good. > > Not saying I agree or disagree with shooting them on site of capture. Just talking about if adding time will really do any good. YMMV \*\* Hey, the view that the parole system is fucked up is a different argument. For the most part, I agree with you. Want to legislate that the attempt to escape is 2 years mandatory if no one gets hurt, assault or manslaughter if they do, and any sentence is to be served consecutively? Fine. I’m just talking about shooting the guy when you have him caught. ---
**Author:** ![zwaldd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a9adbd/32.png) [@zwaldd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwaldd)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/63 "2002-12-30T01:42:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lurkernomore \* > \*\*So if the cops catch someone after a high speed chase, you recommend summary execution? \*\* Yep. For the reason I stated in my first post: No less dangerous a situation than if he’d drawn a weapon. ---
**Author:** ![zwaldd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a9adbd/32.png) [@zwaldd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwaldd)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/64 "2002-12-30T01:50:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lurkernomore \* > \*\* I’m just talking about shooting the guy when you have him caught. \*\* Unless the guy stops the car and gets out the first time cops shout ‘get out of the car!’, then he’s not ‘caught’ and he (or she) should be treated with the same regard as a guy waving a gun around. One chance (at the officer’s discretion) to drop the weapon, then take him out. ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/65 "2002-12-30T02:01:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zwaldd \* > \*\*Yep. For the reason I stated in my first post: No less dangerous a situation than if he’d drawn a weapon. \*\* So a 15yr old kid and 5 of his juvenile buddies steal a van and this scenario happens. You think they should execute the driver? Oh wait lemme put my thinking cap on :blink,blink: Yes you **do** … ---
**Author:** ![zwaldd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a9adbd/32.png) [@zwaldd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwaldd)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/66 "2002-12-30T02:14:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tony Montana \* > \*\* You think they should execute the driver? > Oh wait lemme put my thinking cap on :blink,blink: > Yes you **do** … \*\* I’m actually impressed that you were able to put 1 and 1 together like that. Bravo. I’m not sure how cops would treat a 15 year old waving a loaded gun around in public, but if they would take him out in that scenario, then they should do the same here. I don’t know how cops handle a kid with a weapon. I would think some situations would call for lethal force; for others the experience of dealing with a kid would dictate the call. ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/67 "2002-12-30T02:19:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zwaldd \* > \*\*I’m actually impressed that you were able to put 1 and 1 together like that. Bravo. ] aww are you _still_ upset?cause you’re still a little pissy… ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/68 "2002-12-30T02:19:09Z")
So, Mr. Montana, should that same van with the aforementioned teen and buddies haul butt down your street while evading the authorities, and in the process run over you and /or your SO and/or your children, would you still have the same view, Sir? ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/69 "2002-12-30T02:25:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by danceswithcats \* > \*\*So, Mr. Montana, should that same van with the aforementioned teen and buddies haul butt down your street while evading the authorities, and in the process run over you and /or your SO and/or your children, would you still have the same view, Sir? \*\* To be quite honest no, I’d probably not give a **damn anymore** ,grab my gun and execute the driver myself. Waffling? yes I’m guilty … ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/70 "2002-12-30T02:33:02Z")
At least you were honest ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/71 "2002-12-30T03:23:15Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by unclviny \* > I think running to elude the police should carry a HUGE penalty (mandatory minimum sentence) and that the runner should be held LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE for any lives lost or damage incurred during the chase, maybe society can impart to these brainfarts that “running is stupid”._\* IIRC they are usually charged with any injuries and or deaths incurred in their pursuit. > [@](#): > > - originally posted by zwald\* > Yep. For the reason I stated in my first post: No less dangerous a situation than if he’d drawn a weapon. A stopped vehicle is no longer a lethal threat a moving one is. Stopping your car is as good as throwing down your weapon. Cops merrily hosing people in parked cars with bullets because they “hurt a few people back there” does not fly in court. Would they love to, probably. On many occasions I’m sure it requires great restraint to avoid curing the repeat offender problem right then and there. A few weeks ago here we had a major chase in town accidents all over, helicopters, spike strips, police cars trying to force him off the road, the whole hollywood scenario. The officers never fired until this guy actually hit a police officer with his car at a quick roadblock set up by a bunch of officers. Turned his car into freaking swiss cheese (like 75 shots fired, from the pics I saw about 30 hit the car), hit the guy 3 times, and didn’t hit his g/f in the passenger seat. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/72 "2002-12-30T03:36:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by drachillix \* > \*\*IIRC they are usually charged with any injuries and or deaths incurred in their pursuit. > > A stopped vehicle is no longer a lethal threat a moving one is. Stopping your car is as good as throwing down your weapon. > > \*\* Sorry, I beg to disagree. A weapon surrendered is not longer a threat to law enforcement and the public, once that weapon is in the custody of the police. Persons behind the wheel of a vehicle can and have inflicted lethal harm upon the persons of police officers, other emergency responders, and the general public. Until the operator is removed from the vehicle and subdued, it (vehicle+operator) must be viewed as a loaded weapon in the hands of a potential offendor. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/73 "2002-12-30T07:28:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zwaldd \* > \*\*Yep. For the reason I stated in my first post: No less dangerous a situation than if he’d drawn a weapon. \*\* Huh? If the car is stopped and he’s out of the car, he’s not a danger to anyone anymore. The idea of policy having the ability to summarily execute people sounds great - IF you have some unnatural trust in the police and believe them to be incapable of being wrong. They’re human beings, falliable, and corruptable, and giving them a license to kill makes society a really, really shitty place. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/74 "2002-12-30T09:07:23Z")
Evading the police should always be a felony, with a possible 5 year prison sentence. (I abhor mandatory sentences) Any resulting death would be felony muder. And I don’t think cops should be sued for resulting deaths or anything else that happens. I think the criminals should be sued. ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/75 "2002-12-30T13:48:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\*Evading the police should always be a felony, with a possible 5 year prison sentence. (I abhor mandatory sentences) Any resulting death would be felony muder. > > And I don’t think cops should be sued for resulting deaths or anything else that happens. I think the criminals should be sued. \*\* I (almost) agree with you, if you run from the police I say that you get a MANDATORY 5 years (minimum) added to your sentence, and maybe we should double the sentences for incidental death or injury being as they were commited while evading, I think if (in a criminals mind) the thought was “pull over and I go to jail for a few months, don’t pull over and I go to prison for MANY YEARS” the running would be greatly curtailed. As of now, there does not seem to be a great downside to evading and I think that HAS to change QUICKLY (I was shocked the first time I saw that "leave it rolling and bail out thing, endangering innocent people in an attempt to stay out of jail, what are you, a fucking animal?, at that point the rules changed (at least in my mind). unclviny (who is getting more conservative at an alarming rate) ---
**Author:** ![zwaldd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a9adbd/32.png) [@zwaldd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwaldd)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/76 "2002-12-30T14:56:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by drachillix \* > **A stopped vehicle is no longer a lethal threat a moving one is. Stopping your car is as good as throwing down your weapon.** If you refer back to my original point (previous page I believe), I was picturing those car chases on COPS where they stop the guy and block him in and somehow the guy takes off again. As danceswithcats said, as long as the guy is still behind the wheel, he is as dangerous as if he was still holding the loaded gun. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SenorBeef \* > **If the car is stopped and he’s out of the car, he’s not a danger to anyone anymore.** Agreed. If the guy stops the car and gets out before the cops get to him, then they can arrest him. But if the cops stop him and he remains in the car after the first ‘get out of the car!’, or if he’s still gunning the engine, they should start blasting. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/77 "2002-12-30T16:41:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zwaldd \* > \*\*If the guy stops the car and gets out before the cops get to him, then they can arrest him. But if the cops stop him and he remains in the car after the first ‘get out of the car!’, or if he’s still gunning the engine, they should start blasting. \*\* Do you even realize you’re talking about killing a human being here? Because they failed to get out of a car? Get a little perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Badge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Badge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badge)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/78 "2002-12-30T16:42:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zwaldd \* > \*\*Unless the guy stops the car and gets out the first time cops shout ‘get out of the car!’, then he’s not ‘caught’ and he (or she) should be treated with the same regard as a guy waving a gun around. One chance (at the officer’s discretion) to drop the weapon, then take him out. \*\* This is actually a good analogy, but it works against your argument, not for it. We do not automatically shoot people who are “waving a gun around” or who refuses his “one chance” to drop it. The weapon needs to be pointed at someone (as a rule) before we use lethal force. Someone who is still behind the wheel has the potential to use it as a weapon, but we generally won’t shoot unless he or she actually drives the car towards someone. BTW, we don’t shoot out tires, either. Too easy to miss, too much risk of a ricochet. That’s why we use spike strips, which are much safer and deflate the tire rather than popping it. ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/79 "2002-12-30T17:02:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cheesesteak \* > \*\*Do you even realize you’re talking about killing a human being here? Because they failed to get out of a car? Get a little perspective. \*\* [quote] _Originally posted by Zwadd_ .I think they should’ve shot the girl! \* Did anyone see this? they took the girl into custody,nobbody got hurt. Sure there were some messed up cop cars . If things happened the way dirty harry suggest. There would be damaged cop cars _and_ a teen with her gray-matter all over the front of the cruiser… ---
**Author:** ![zwaldd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a9adbd/32.png) [@zwaldd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwaldd)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462/80 "2002-12-30T17:27:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cheesesteak \* > \*\*Do you even realize you’re talking about killing a human being here? Because they failed to get out of a car? Get a little perspective. \*\* Under the circumstances I’ve been specifying, yes I realize that. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Badge_ > \*\*We do not automatically shoot people who are “waving a gun around” or who refuses his “one chance” to drop it. \*\* I think you (I’m assuming you’re a cop) should have the option to use lethal force in that situation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-justify-car-chases-involving-the-police/145462.md?page=5)