
A 25 year old male motorcyclist died early this morning, in another high speed chase by police. At approximately 1:20 am, NJ police received a report of an erratic motorcyclist in Clifton. The police turned on their lights when they spotted the motorcyclist at a red light on Route 46. The motorcyclist reacted by taking off through the red light, causing the police to give chase.
The high speed chase ended when the motorcyclist crashed trying to navigate a turn. Officials pronounced the man dead at the scene of the accident. This is a second recently reported fatality in our area, that resulted from a high speed police chase. Police are often compelled to pursue offenders who flee the scene, in order to protect the public. Many people question whether or not these high speed criminal chases, place the general public in even more danger.
The decision to pursue a criminal that flees the scene, is based in part upon the severity of the crime committed, the potential danger to the public and the experience of the police officer. This decision will often have to be made quickly by police, after instantly weighing all the pertinent factors. Our police are trained professionals in making the all important and often instantaneous judgment call, as to whether or not to engage in a high speed chase. While being mindful that public safety should be paramount, perhaps the focus should not be so much on the decision to engage in a high speed chase, as much as when police should disengage a high speed chase.
Long Island Lawyer
Paul A. Lauto, Esq.