BDx13
|
|
Supreme Court rules that police can chase, even if it endangers lives
Good, I say...
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/01/supreme-court-rules-that-...
Common sense dictates that if you run from the police, it will end badly. In our oft-litigious society, suing as a means to evade responsibility is a
popular option. In 2001, 19-year-old Victor Harris engaged Coweta County deputy sheriff Timothy Scott in a dangerous chase on rain-slicked roads. To
end the chase, deputy Scott rammed Harris's car, which then crashed down an embankment. Mr. Harris was left a quadriplegic from the injuries sustained
in the wreck, and subsequently sued on the contention that the sheriff used unreasonable deadly force.
The case made its way to the Supreme Court, which ruled 8-1 against Harris's claim. Lower courts had ruled in favor of Harris, but the Supreme Court
overturned that opinion. The reasoning for the decision was that while police chases are dangerous, doing away with them ensures perpetrators a means
of escape by merely driving erratically at high speed. Either way, there'll still be someone running from police, endangering other innocent
bystanders. While the outcome of Mr. Harris's chase is tragic, it doesn't change the fact that instead of stopping and accepting a citation for
travelling 73 mph in a 55 zone, he chose to run. It's terrible that someone so young will have to live out the rest of his days with paralysis, but
that could have been prevented by a more thorough examination of the consequences at the time he attempted to evade the law. The most damning bit of
evidence was the video of the chase, which shows how reckless Mr. Harris really was, and likely led to the near-unanimous decision from the court.
If I fail math, there goes my chance at a good job and a happy life full of hard work.
|
|
|
Discipline
* DRUNKEN MONKEY *
Posts: 11900
Registered: 9-8-2004
Location: Over here
Member Is Offline
Mood: The Alley Dukes
|
|
Dumb fuckers wouldn't get hurt if they didn't run.
‘Do you know what a love letter is? It’s a bullet from a fucking gun. Straight through your heart.’
|
|
|
CR83
Moderator
Posts: 5221
Registered: 1-23-2004
Location: STL!
Member Is Offline
Mood: Harm's Way
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Discipline
Dumb fuckers wouldn't get hurt if they didn't run. |
|
|
|
JawnDiablo
Posting Freak
Posts: 12139
Registered: 4-21-2005
Location: 1902666
Member Is Offline
|
|
my parents were nearly killed by township cops chasing a crackhead in a stolen car a few years ago. they chased them at high speeds through 3
townships. the chase ended when the suspect t boned my parents coming around a hard turn. my parents got fucked by the insurance companies and by the
whole situation. i have mixed feelings.
|
|
|
clevohardcore
* Kick\'n ass on the wild side *
Posts: 12937
Registered: 9-19-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sick Of It All, Youth Of Today
|
|
I see both sides and I still feel that Police need to be able to dictate what to do and not the criminals.
Our Sheriffs department can chase, but the Elyria PD can not. Its fucked up and most criminals know this.
Each aspect of the soul has it's own part to play, but the ideal is harmonious agreement with reason and control.
|
|
|
BDx13
|
|
interesting (and sorry to hear that). are your parents ok now?
i certainly feel for the innocent bystanders, but the alternative is a little worrying. "if you can drive fast enough or crazy enough, then the cops
have to let you go"?
does the law should specify financial responsibility in a situation like that? tack it on to the criminal's restitution.
where's godabandonedme; we need further clarification!
If I fail math, there goes my chance at a good job and a happy life full of hard work.
|
|
|
Siczine.com
Posting Freak
Posts: 2351
Registered: 9-6-2005
Location: Philly
Member Is Offline
Mood: Cynical
|
|
Yeah it sucks that bystanders get in the way but remember its the criminals fault not the cops. And the criminal should be punished for forcing
police to chase, I'm sure the everyday cop doesn't want to get into a high-speed chase, endangering not only their lives but lives of others.
|
|
|
moron
Posting Freak
Posts: 2393
Registered: 5-28-2003
Location: CT
Member Is Offline
|
|
I say keep them legal. If there weren't any car chases we wouldnt have awesome "World's Deadliest Car Chases" shows! What a travesty that would be.
|
|
|
JawnDiablo
Posting Freak
Posts: 12139
Registered: 4-21-2005
Location: 1902666
Member Is Offline
|
|
my parents were ok.
they got screwed by the whole restitution thing, and the arresting officers were ass holes to them at the scene.
you're not going to get much restitution out of some crackhead in a stolen car.
the car got fixed, but there was tons of hidden damage and they had to shell out a bunch of their own money for repairs down the road. roughly $2500.
i agree that it is the criminals that are to blame. and i know theres no sure way to prevent imminent chaos in that situation. i respect police
officers and the job they do. this situation took them 5 miles along route 1 onto a windy 2 lane road. they coulda pulled off and radioed in backup.
shit, we have ghetto coptors from philly overhead in this town. theyd been caught soon enough.
funny thing is, my dad is kinda nuts.
the driver of the stolen car tried to get away on foot and ran through peoples yards.
my dad chased the guy down and would have probably stomped him.
he got to the guy before the cops did.
he is 72 now.
try to get a mental image of some old guy in those old man cataracts shades about to stomp Coolio.
dude was hiding behind a bush....
|
|
|
DaveMoral
Posting Freak
Posts: 4334
Registered: 1-24-2006
Location: Ardmore PA
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by juandiablo
my parents were nearly killed by township cops chasing a crackhead in a stolen car a few years ago. they chased them at high speeds through 3
townships. the chase ended when the suspect t boned my parents coming around a hard turn. my parents got fucked by the insurance companies and by the
whole situation. i have mixed feelings. |
I wonder if that was the same chase that my wife and I nearly got head-on'd driving up 63rd St towards City Ave...
|
|
|
JawnDiablo
Posting Freak
Posts: 12139
Registered: 4-21-2005
Location: 1902666
Member Is Offline
|
|
nah this one was in drexel hill off of rte 1
|
|
|
BDx13
|
|
there was a police chase in s. philly about a month ago and the people trying to get away nearly ran over rennie from starkweather as he was getting
out of his car. they crashed on that same block, and if i remember correctly, someone did die in the accident.
If I fail math, there goes my chance at a good job and a happy life full of hard work.
|
|
|
DaveMoral
Posting Freak
Posts: 4334
Registered: 1-24-2006
Location: Ardmore PA
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by juandiablo
nah this one was in drexel hill off of rte 1 |
Mine was in like... Overbrook Farms or whatever. That shit was scary.
|
|
|
JawnDiablo
Posting Freak
Posts: 12139
Registered: 4-21-2005
Location: 1902666
Member Is Offline
|
|
all and more reason for me to wear my seatbelt at all times
the world is nuts
The more i hear about crap around here, the more i want to be Duane's new neighbor in farm country
|
|
|
DaveMoral
Posting Freak
Posts: 4334
Registered: 1-24-2006
Location: Ardmore PA
Member Is Offline
|
|
Agreed.
|
|
|
godabandonedme
Senior Member
Posts: 758
Registered: 2-1-2005
Location: Philadelphia
Member Is Offline
Mood: Darkbuster
|
|
Argh. I've chased a thousand cars for a thousand reasons. Just because the Supreme Court rules anything means absolutely nothing when it comes down
to what happens in the street. Federal Law states that any police officer can shoot an unarmed felon, as long as they have the knowledge or belief
that this person is, or is going to commit harm to another person, hence the "fleeing felon" law. However, if a Joe cop does that in philly, he's
loosing his job and getting sued, just won't go to jail federally. Chasing cars......ok it goes like this in Phila : You go over radio and advise
them you have a vehicle refusing to to stop for whatever reason, now a supervisor is immediatly notified an they call it, if the car comes up stolen,
they might let it go for a minute or two, then call "terminate" at which time you have to give your location and miles untill they meet you. Now if
it's because they ran a redlight or any stupid moving violation the supervisor will always terminate it. But say it's a vehicle involved in a
homicide or shooting, or kidnapping?? It's a touchy subject, the mere appearance that police will absolutely not pursue for anything less then a
sight shooting just gives people more reason to flee hence possiblly causing an accident whether we're chasing or not, besides the pure obsurdnese of
it saying "if you commit a crime an run, you'lll always get away". Society absolutely can not be given that option in my opinion. However, I do also
see Juan's side, I've seen a bunch of innocent people get banged up or have property damage because of some twobit smokers decision to run. Like I
said, do you want to live in a place where criminals will automatically get away if they run?? As for restituion, no you won't get shit from that
smoker, however, if you sue the city you absolutely will. This city is sued hundreds of times a year, and almost ALWAYS pays out because it's cheaper
then going to civil court and paying 1000 dollar an hour lawyers. I duno, touchy.
\"Leave the gun....take the canolis.\"
|
|
|
godabandonedme
Senior Member
Posts: 758
Registered: 2-1-2005
Location: Philadelphia
Member Is Offline
Mood: Darkbuster
|
|
Seriously, a cop post's on this an no one will reply? Fuck I am a thread killer.........................
\"Leave the gun....take the canolis.\"
|
|
|
JawnDiablo
Posting Freak
Posts: 12139
Registered: 4-21-2005
Location: 1902666
Member Is Offline
|
|
but we've been busy discussing Bonecrusher......
|
|
|
DaveMoral
Posting Freak
Posts: 4334
Registered: 1-24-2006
Location: Ardmore PA
Member Is Offline
|
|
What was left to say? Haha. Seriously though, thanks for the run down.
|
|
|
upyerbum
Posting Freak
Posts: 3226
Registered: 10-14-2005
Location: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Member Is Offline
Mood: Condemned 84
|
|
More vigilantes.
Well, its this place where nobody works, and the pigs don\'t give you any shit. Everyone smokes weed and gets drunk all day. Its a place where
cunts like me and you can truly take it easy and relax. Know what I mean?
|
|
|
![[*]](images/thorp/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
