Why wasn't the police union able to pay these guys off and kill the bill?
A Virginia State Crime Commission study found there were at least 1,227 traffic pursuits by law enforcement in the state last year, 15 percent of which ended in crashes.
And those wrecks killed 11 violators -- but no officers or third parties.
At its meeting Wednesday, the commission will consider endorsing legislation that would place some restrictions on police pursuits and emergency vehicle responses and stiffen punishment for violators, including the forfeiture of their automobiles.
The attention is the result of some high-profile cases, such as the 2008 death of a Fairfax County woman after a police car ran a traffic light while not using its siren, and the March death of a Richmond clergyman killed by a car that ran a stop sign while fleeing police.
In response to the 2008 death in Northern Virginia, state Sen. Linda T. Puller, D-Fairfax, introduced legislation that would require emergency vehicles proceeding through red lights or stop signs do so either at a speed slow enough for the emergency vehicle to stop or with flashing lights and sirens working.
A bill proposed by Del. G. Manoli Loupassi, R-Richmond, a crime commission member, would, in certain cases, allow police to seize and sell private vehicles involved in a pursuit by police.
A bill proposed by Del. G. Manoli Loupassi, R-Richmond, a crime commission member, would, in certain cases, allow police to seize and sell private vehicles involved in a pursuit by police.
A law-enforcement work group that studied the issue this year believed there should be no uniform statewide policy on the use of lights and sirens at intersections because of the differences between urban and rural areas. It also cited the need for quiet but fast responses to violent situations in which police do not want to alert a suspect they are en route.
The group favored having the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services develop a model policy for police pursuits and to have more training for police officers on how and when to conduct such chases, one of the most dangerous situations faced by police.
There also was widespread support for increasing the penalties for eluding police, including the possible civil forfeiture of the offender's vehicle.
The Department of Criminal Justice Services and the International Association of Chiefs of Police have model policies for pursuits and emergency vehicle responses. However, there is no requirement for Virginia law-enforcement agencies to have pursuit policies.
A recently completed study by crime commission staff of 109 of 134 Virginia law-enforcement agencies showed that 89 percent had written pursuit policies. Richmond, Henrico and other area police departments have a regional pursuit policy.
The majority of the policies recommend ending pursuits: when the risk of the pursuit outweighs the benefit of apprehension; in cases of poor weather, traffic or road conditions; when the suspect has been identified; or when equipment malfunctions in the officer's vehicle.
More than 90 percent of agencies said they have at least some ability to communicate with other jurisdictions during a chase, and 85 percent have a written policy addressing pursuits that start in their jurisdiction that lead into another jurisdiction.
In the Richmond incident this year, Apostle Anthony L. Taylor was killed by a car fleeing Henrico County police in a nighttime high-speed chase that crossed into the city. Police said the fleeing car's lights were off and that the driver ran a stop sign at North 31st and P streets and slammed into Taylor's pickup truck.
In July, Darryl M. Harris pleaded guilty in Richmond to aggravated involuntary manslaughter, felony eluding police and hit-and-run in the crash that killed Taylor. In Henrico, he pleaded guilty to possession of the drug Ecstasy and possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled substance. A plea agreement requires him to serve 13 total years in prison -- 10½ years for the Richmond charges and 2½ years for the Henrico charges.
The commission's survey released last month found that the 1,227 pursuits reported by Virginia law-enforcement agencies in 2009 averaged: five minutes in length, 4 miles in distance and a speed of 72 mph. Most pursuit speeds ranged from 41 to 80 mph while in seven pursuits from 141 to 160 mph.
Virginia law exempts emergency vehicles from prosecution for violating traffic laws if the vehicle is used in the performance of public services, is operated under emergency conditions and has activated lights and sirens -- all while having "due regard for the safety of persons and property."
Ignoring a signal to pull over can be considered eluding police and earn a driver a misdemeanor or felony conviction depending on the circumstances. The driver's license may also be suspended. In the year that ended June 30, there were 708 such misdemeanor convictions and 506 felony convictions, compared with 432 and 459 respectively five years ago.
The commission will consider: adopting a version of Puller's bill; establishing standardized reporting forms so consistent data can be reported across the state; establishing a statewide pursuit database; improving emergency driver training standards; and increasing penalties for eluding police, including forfeiture.