Should criminals who flee by vehicle be shot?

[Novorobo]

So I was recently watching some old episodes of World's Wildest Police Videos, and thinking about how much danger people who flee by vehicle put innocent bystanders in.

On behalf of the very notion of trying to take the criminals alive (they are no longer mere "suspects" once they run from the cops) police will not shoot them unless they have their guns drawn and pointed at officers or bystanders. Apparently, the whole legal basis of this is that only then are they an "imminent threat." But fleeing from police; at least in an automobile; also poses an imminent threat to public safety. Why not just shoot them?

[Washington Resistance Army]

Because cops have garbage accuracy and out of control vehicles aren't fun.

[Greed and Death]

Because cops have garbage accuracy and out of control vehicles aren't fun.

If they were to give the cops TOWs I think neither would be a problem.

[USS Donald Trump]

Because cops have garbage accuracy and out of control vehicles aren't fun.

If they were to give the cops TOWs I think neither would be a problem.

All chases should be stopped by a 120mm SABOT round.

[Washington Resistance Army]

Because cops have garbage accuracy and out of control vehicles aren't fun.

If they were to give the cops TOWs I think neither would be a problem.

This is an idea I could get on board with.

[Novorobo]

Because cops have garbage accuracy and out of control vehicles aren't fun.

I'd rather the predictable path of an automobile with a dead criminal than the unpredictable path of an automobile with someone crazy enough to run from the cops.

If anyone's going to have accurate aim, it's a police officer. They're not known for shooting themselves in the hand at gun shows like civilians do.

[Greed and Death]

If they were to give the cops TOWs I think neither would be a problem.

This is an idea I could get on board with.

Just saying the TOW minimizes cops missing and the risk of a wild out of control vehicle going into oncoming traffic.

The best part is we can likely get these for free with a combination of our asset forfeiture system and military surplus.

[Dushan]

No. Better idea: equip Police Cars with cowcatchers and ram the fleeing criminal cars in the most brutal way for maximum destruction and entertainment.

[The Skrall]

Yes, they should be killed. If they are fleeing, that obviously means that they are guilty. The police should have the authority to destroy their vehicle (using guns mounted on the car or weapons mounted on an aircraft.) I believe that when someone commits a crime, they should forfeit all of their human rights. Criminals don't deserve to have the same rights as the people they murdered and/or harmed intentionally. This is the law in my nation.

[Sack Jackpot Winners]

Because cops have garbage accuracy and out of control vehicles aren't fun.

I'd rather the predictable path of an automobile with a dead criminal than the unpredictable path of an automobile with someone crazy enough to run from the cops.

If anyone's going to have accurate aim, it's a police officer. They're not known for shooting themselves in the hand at gun shows like civilians do.

You don't have accurate aim shooting from a moving vehicle to another moving vehicle. You just don't. That's why gangbangers use five or six AKs during drive by shootings.

[Washington Resistance Army]

Because cops have garbage accuracy and out of control vehicles aren't fun.

I'd rather the predictable path of an automobile with a dead criminal than the unpredictable path of an automobile with someone crazy enough to run from the cops.

If anyone's going to have accurate aim, it's a police officer. They're not known for shooting themselves in the hand at gun shows like civilians do.

Cops are notorious for having awful accuracy as has been shown time and time again, and how in the name of fuck does a car with a dead driver have a predictable path?

[Imam Shamil]

nothing

[The Empire of Pretantia]

Because cops have garbage accuracy and out of control vehicles aren't fun.

If they were to give the cops TOWs I think neither would be a problem.

TOWs don't work within 65 meters. They're designed not to explode their own operator.

[USS Donald Trump]

If they were to give the cops TOWs I think neither would be a problem.

TOWs don't work within 65 meters. They're designed not to explode their own operator.

that sounds like something good ol redneck engineering can fix

[Wisconsin9]

If they were to give the cops TOWs I think neither would be a problem.

TOWs don't work within 65 meters. They're designed not to explode their own operator.

Clearly the only practical solution is to have constant Predator patrols over every major city.

[USS Donald Trump]

TOWs don't work within 65 meters. They're designed not to explode their own operator.

Clearly the only practical solution is to have constant Predator patrols over every major city.

http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/police-armoured-tank-patrol-the-road-to-monitor-workers-protesting-on-picture-id136654579

[The Empire of Pretantia]

TOWs don't work within 65 meters. They're designed not to explode their own operator.

that sounds like something good ol redneck engineering can fix

Please don't. I'd rather not have to clean small chewy bits off a TAS because somebody wanted to blow up stuff at point blank range.

[Nirvash Type TheEND]

Fleeing from the authorities implies guilt, is in and of itself a crime, and implies a willingness to commit further crimes. Anyone fleeing from police should be a legitimate target. Not to use any heated terminology or w/e.

[Ochea]

To deal with car chases, and to minimize civilian casualties, a helicopter should be used. The helicopter should send down chains attached to large electromagnets, and the electromagnets should be attached to the car. Then the car is lifted off the road and into the sky. The criminal then cannot flee the car without jumping to their death. They are then taken directly to the prison. No need for a trial, the person could never have left the car, so the person in the car is known to be guilty. My nation solves this problem by having self-driving cars that the government can stop or start at any time.

[Neutraligon]

Fleeing from the authorities implies guilt, is in and of itself a crime, and implies a willingness to commit further crimes. Anyone fleeing from police should be a legitimate target. Not to use any heated terminology or w/e.

There are situations where someone may appear to be fleeing police who is not. FOr instance a person who is trying to get to a hospital really quickly and who ignores the sirens may appear to be fleeing from the police. More importantly, shooting at someone who is currently driving means turning the car into an uncontrolled projectile if you manage to hit them, or having the danger of hitting bystanders.

[Nirvash Type TheEND]

FOr instance a person who is trying to get to a hospital really quickly and who ignores the sirens may appear to be fleeing from the police.

Too niche of a hypothetical for me to care, really.

More importantly, shooting at someone who is currently driving means turning the car into an uncontrolled projectile if you manage to hit them, or having the danger of hitting bystanders.

Yeah, welp. It's a dangerous world.

[Ifreann]

So I was recently watching some old episodes of World's Wildest Police Videos, and thinking about how much danger people who flee by vehicle put innocent bystanders in.

On behalf of the very notion of trying to take the criminals alive (they are no longer mere "suspects" once they run from the cops) police will not shoot them unless they have their guns drawn and pointed at officers or bystanders. Apparently, the whole legal basis of this is that only then are they an "imminent threat." But fleeing from police; at least in an automobile; also poses an imminent threat to public safety. Why not just shoot them?

Shooting them wouldn't end the threat to the public. On the contrary, a fast moving vehicle suddenly being deprived of an operator would probably put the public in more danger. Plus the police tend to be terrible shots and moving objects tend to be harder to shoot.

---

To deal with car chases, and to minimize civilian casualties, a helicopter should be used. The helicopter should send down chains attached to large electromagnets, and the electromagnets should be attached to the car. Then the car is lifted off the road and into the sky. The criminal then cannot flee the car without jumping to their death. They are then taken directly to the prison. No need for a trial, the person could never have left the car, so the person in the car is known to be guilty. My nation solves this problem by having self-driving cars that the government can stop or start at any time.

[Neutraligon]

FOr instance a person who is trying to get to a hospital really quickly and who ignores the sirens may appear to be fleeing from the police.

Too niche of a hypothetical for me to care, really.

More importantly, shooting at someone who is currently driving means turning the car into an uncontrolled projectile if you manage to hit them, or having the danger of hitting bystanders.

Yeah, welp. It's a dangerous world.

That was just an example, there are other situation where this can occur.
Agreed it is a dangerous world, no need to make it more so by having cops shoot at people in a moving vehicle.

[Greed and Death]

If they were to give the cops TOWs I think neither would be a problem.

TOWs don't work within 65 meters. They're designed not to explode their own operator.

Since we are not taking out tanks reduce the explosives and the safety radius. Cars are much easier to explode than tanks and armored vehicles.

[Ganonsyoni]

Let's not give cops more reasons to shoot people please...