DC Police Pursuit Rules Relaxed: Officers Get More Leeway in Car Chases, Public Safety Tech Review Mandated

This new legislation, the District of Columbia Policing Protection Act of 2025, fundamentally changes the rules of the road for police car chases in D.C. It rolls back several limitations set in 2022 that restricted when law enforcement could start or continue a vehicular pursuit. Essentially, the bill shifts the default setting from ‘don’t chase’ to ‘you can chase,’ unless specific safety concerns override the situation. This is a significant operational change for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and other federal officers operating in the area.

The New Standard: When is a Chase Okay?

Under the old rules, pursuits were heavily restricted, often limited to specific, serious felonies. Now, the bill allows officers to pursue a suspect driving away unless one of two conditions is met. First, the officer or supervisor must have a “reasonable belief” that continuing the chase creates an “unacceptable risk of harm” to someone who isn't the suspect, or if the pursuit is just “pointless.” Second, they must stop if they think they can catch the suspect more safely or quickly using a different method. If you’re a driver, pedestrian, or cyclist in D.C., this means the likelihood of being caught near a high-speed chase just went up, especially since the definition of “unacceptable risk” is subjective and left up to the officer’s discretion in a high-stress moment. This is where the rubber meets the road, literally, for everyday residents.

Risk vs. Reward: Who Bears the Cost?

For law enforcement, the benefit is clear: more flexibility to pursue suspects who flee, which proponents argue is necessary for crime deterrence. However, the cost is potentially borne by the public. Relaxing these restrictions means more chases, and high-speed pursuits are inherently dangerous to everyone on the road—from the person driving to their job to the family walking to the park. The bill uses vague language like “unacceptable risk,” which is a low bar and grants officers wide latitude. For example, if a pursuit starts over a minor traffic violation and continues into a busy neighborhood, the decision to keep going rests on that officer’s immediate, subjective judgment call, potentially increasing the risk of serious injury or property damage to uninvolved residents.

A Nod to Technology: The Public Alert Study

While the bill relaxes pursuit rules, it does include a measure aimed at mitigating public danger. The Department of Justice is mandated to study the cost and feasibility of implementing a system like PursuitAlert within three years. This technology is designed to warn the public when a police chase is happening near them. If adopted, this system could provide crucial seconds of warning, allowing residents to get out of the way. It’s a classic trade-off: The bill increases the risk of pursuits but requires the government to explore technology that could make those pursuits marginally safer for the public. The Attorney General must report the findings to Congress, which is the first step toward potentially funding and implementing such a system.