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Newport News Police Department
B. An officer will not engage in a pursuit of a vehicle if any of the following criteria apply: [41.2.2(a)]
1. The only known or observed offenses are traffic infractions and any misdemeanor other than a
firearms offense.
2. The officer knows the driver’s identity, or the identity becomes known or ascertainable during the
pursuit. The officer will immediately terminate the pursuit and obtain warrants for the alleged
offense(s) and effect the arrest of the driver later. This shall not apply when the driver and/or
occupants of the vehicle are known or identified by an officer, and the driver and/or occupant is
wanted in connection with a violent felony (i.e., murder, rape, robbery, etc.), or when SID personnel
are attempting to apprehend a drug target as outlined in Section III.A.2.
3. The potential dangers of the pursuit outweigh the apprehension of the suspect(s).
4. The officer is transporting a prisoner or civilian passenger, including a ride-along.
C. Before initiating and during a pursuit, the officer must be aware of and evaluate possible factors that
would increase the risk of harm to bystanders, non-involved motorist, suspect vehicle occupants and
officers involved in the pursuit. These factors include but are not limited to weather, traffic conditions,
and pedestrian traffic. The safety of persons and property is paramount. Conditions that affect visibility
and maneuverability of involved vehicles require constant evaluation for safety by pursuing officers and
the on-duty supervisor during a pursuit.
D. The officer must discontinue the pursuit if conditions exist which make the pursuit unsafe, including:
1. Vehicular speed is a critical safety factor. Therefore, officers will not exceed a speed of 75 mph on city
streets or 100 mph on an interstate. Officers may request to continue the pursuit in excess of these
speeds WHEN they articulate both the reason for the pursuit AND that apprehension of the fleeing
vehicle is necessary for preserving life. The pursuit supervisor must approve or deny the request
over the radio. [4.1.2; 41.2.2(a,i)]
2. If a police vehicle involved in the pursuit sustains any damage limiting safe operation during a pursuit
or equipment malfunctions that limit communication.
3. If the suspect vehicle is a motorcycle, the maneuverability, including the ability to travel between
vehicles and on pedestrian walkways, increases the safety risks and may make the pursuit unsafe.
E. When operating police units during a vehicle pursuit, officers shall always exercise extreme caution and
are responsible for the safe operation of their vehicles. Officers are responsible for always maintaining
proper control of their vehicles. [4.1.2; 41.2.1]
1. When proceeding past any steady or flashing red signal, traffic light, stop sign or device indicating
the moving traffic shall stop, the speed of the police vehicle will be sufficiently reduced to enable the
police vehicle to pass the signal, traffic light or device with due regard for the safety of persons and
property (see §46.2-920 of the Code of Virginia). Officers must ensure the intersection is clear before
proceeding through and shall come to a complete stop if necessary. There is no absolute right to pass
through an intersection against a traffic signal.
2. Officers will not initiate or continue a vehicle pursuit going the wrong way against the traffic flow on
a U.S. Interstate roadway.
F. Pursuit Situations
1. When an officer initiates a vehicle pursuit, they shall advise the Communications Division of the
following information: [41.2.2(c)]
a. Reason for pursuit.
b. Direction of travel and route during the pursuit.
c. Complete description of the vehicle (color, make, license number, number of occupants including
description if possible).
d. Speed of the pursuit.
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