Washington law giving police expanded prosecution powers takes effect after controversy over restrictions

By Daniel Schrager
The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Washington)

SEATTLE, Washington — Starting June 6, police officers in Washington State will have broader jurisdiction to track down drivers suspected of a crime.

Under the previous version of the law, which took effect in July 2021, officers were only allowed to pursue a driver if they had a “reasonable suspicion” that someone in the car had committed a violent crime, a sex crime, domestic violence or assault with a vehicle, attempted to escape from custody or was driving under the influence of alcohol.

Since the passage of Initiative 2113 in March, officers can now pursue a car if they have reason to believe that someone in the vehicle has violated the law in any way.

Persecution Act 2021 was controversial

The initiative reverses changes made by a 2021 law that, among other things, limited police chases and restricted the use of force. Critics of the law said it did not give law enforcement enough powers to pursue suspects and protect communities, citing rising crime in the state. According to FBI data, Washington’s violent crime rate rose from 303 crimes per 100,000 residents in 2019 (and 294 in pandemic-hit 2020) to 336 in 2021 and 376 in 2022.

Proponents of the reform, meanwhile, cited evidence that high-speed chases endanger the public and argued they should only be conducted when absolutely necessary. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, more than 3,000 people died in police chases nationwide between 2017 and 2022, including more than 500 bystanders.

Data compiled by Martina Morris, professor emeritus at the University of Washington, shows that there were 11 deaths in the state as a result of police chases in the 15 months before the reforms went into effect, and two in the 15 months after the reforms went into effect.

What else does Initiative 2113 change?

In addition to expanding the range of crimes for which police may pursue a vehicle, I-2113 also lowers the requirements that must be met for a chase to be initiated. Previously, a suspect had to pose a “serious danger to others” for police to initiate a chase. Now, the suspect must be deemed a “threat to the safety of others” to justify a chase.

___

(c)2024 The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Washington)
Visit The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Washington) at www.bellinghamherald.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.