• 14
  • July
    2010

The North Carolina Highway Patrol recently announced a change to its policies dealing with car chases and the pursuit of vehicles by state troopers. In a previous post, we discussed a fatal car accident in Guilford County that resulted from a collision between a trooper engaged in a high-speed chase and a car attempting to make a left turn. Jeff Gordon, a spokesman for the Highway Patrol, said the revised protocols and the recent accident are unrelated.

According to Gordon, the patrol conducts monthly meetings to discuss what he called "extraordinary patrol vehicle operations." He went on to say that, the new policies were contemplated long before the Guilford County car accident and are not a reaction to that incident.

Among the changes outlined in the Highway Patrol's new policies, include a requirement that local law enforcement agencies formally request the assistance of the Highway Patrol through their communication center before troopers join in a high-speed chase. In the past, a request for assistance could come directly from a pursing officer to an individual trooper. This change is aimed at providing better information to the Highway Patrol regarding the subjects of the chase and why they are being apprehended.

Additional policy changes include a clarification to the wording of pursuit procedures. Previously, troopers were required to use "emergency equipment" while engaging in a pursuit. Now, troopers have been specifically instructed to use both blue lights and sirens during a pursuit. Witnesses to the Guilford County accident claim that the trooper may not have had his siren on before the fatal car crash.

Lastly, the Highway Patrol has now required that a supervisor "supervise" a high-speed chase, whereas in the past they were only required to "monitor" a chase. According to Gordon, the new requirement demands a more active involvement by a supervisor when a situation involving a high-speed pursuit develops.


Related Resources:

Patrol Changes Chase Rules (The Raleigh News & Observer)