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There is considerable discussion in police departments about the merits of high speed chases...Many departments do NOT allow the officer in the car to initiate a chase unless first getting radio permission from a supervisor. And more often, when pursuits enter densly populated areas, the officers are directed to abandon the pursuit. However, studies done in response to requests for a blanket policy against pursuing people running from things like traffic offenses..i.e.failure to stop when pulled over have shown that such a policy would actually cause MORE high speed chases, and probably more civilian injuries, becuase everyone would run away if they new they wouldn't be pursued...FWIW, since nearly all police cars have video cameras, if a suspects flees, it should be an automatic 5 year conviction....no ifs, and, or buts...that, IMHO, would stop a lot of these before they start..

It doesn't even look like there was really a chase in this case. The kids were already doing 80-100mph when the cop started following them. He eventually put on his lights and fell back after 15 seconds at high speed pusuit. 15 seconds would be enough to let the driver know that the party was over and it was time to pull over. The kid opted to run and killed himself and his friends.

Not if the car is stolen.

<> The video technique works until you have someone in a stolen car,,,like here. The Mexican guy they stole it from would be charged with a felony and also not have his car.

There is considerable discussion in police departments about the merits of high speed chases...Many departments do NOT allow the officer in the car to initiate a chase unless first getting radio permission from a supervisor. And more often, when pursuits enter densly populated areas, the officers are directed to abandon the pursuit. However, studies done in response to requests for a blanket policy against pursuing people running from things like traffic offenses..i.e.failure to stop when pulled over have shown that such a policy would actually cause MORE high speed chases, and probably more civilian injuries, becuase everyone would run away if they new they wouldn't be pursued...FWIW, since nearly all police cars have video cameras, if a suspects flees, it should be an automatic 5 year conviction....no ifs, and, or buts...that, IMHO, would stop a lot of these before they start..

To put it in perspective, if I were a scofflaw, I'd have no problem with fleeing if my chances of being chased were minimal. Drive down the road a few miles, ditch the car in an alley, and steal another vehicle. 'Getting away with it' is half the fun of the whole affair. The 'no chase' policy is destined to failure.