Police car chases rise as criminals seek TV fame (HOLD MUH BEER ALERT)

The Daily Telegraph ^ | October 21, 2002 | Oliver Poole

[MadIvan]

The popularity of television broadcasts of live high-speed car chases has led to a dramatic rise in criminals trying to out-race pursuing officers, according to Los Angeles police.

They said they have documented cases of offenders waving to helicopters filming the pursuit and attempting spectacular manoeuvres in the hope of appearing on one of the seven Los Angeles television channels which show such chases live.

"They are trying to get their 15 minutes of fame," said David Doan, deputy chief of police in the city, who is heading an investigation into the reasons for a rise in chases.

After taking part in a chase shown on television criminals are treated as celebrities in their neighbourhoods, said Mr Doan.

Over the past three years the number of people trying to flee police has jumped by 40 per cent. Similar figures for the rest of California - where there are no aerial television shots - have dropped by about 10 per cent.

Television executives say the coverage boosts ratings. A beeper service even notifies 2,000 subscribers - who each pay £3 a month - when a televised chase is under way.

[MadIvan]

This has to be the dumbest reason to commit crime I've ever heard of.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[goose1]

Unfortunately their are many dumb people.

[Poohbah]

I had to attend traffic school a couple of years ago. During the lunch break, we watched a compilation of the dumbest police chases on record. They're actually kind of amusing, especially the guy who tried to beat an Orange County Transit District bus across an intersection...on a motorcycle.

The bus driver's thought was probably something like "Damn, when did they put in the speed bumps on this intersection?"

[kaylar]

Oddly enough, the "best" (ie, scariest) police chase I ever saw was recorded in London. A policewoman was pursuing a suspect's car, and he was forced to come to a halt-and the maniac throws his car into reverse! Her tape clearly shows the car's rear tyre going up over her hood and through her windshield and touching the steering wheel! Amazingly, she was not killed-watching that, I was sure the whole rear end of the suspect's car was going to wind up crushing her.

Best scene in one of those police chase tapes showed what happened after the cops got the guy pulled over. He was drunk and out driving around in his underwear. He gets out, he manages to get one of those orange construction cones, puts it over his head , and goes dancing down the road.

[Tulsa Brian]

Hang on. I think you and I haven't seen anything yet...

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!
This has come about after much badgering by you, my friends and extended family...

[martin_fierro]

Lately I've been hanging out shirtless at the 7-11, hoping to get my big screen break on "Cops". <|:)~

[martin_fierro]

Unfortunately their are many dumb people.

Yes, there are.

And I'm dead series. <|:)~

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

He gets out, he manages to get one of those orange construction cones, puts it over his head , and goes dancing down the road.

Apparently, that's not all The Queen's subjects have been known to do with traffic/construction cones...