Posted on 10/20/2002 11:49:22 PM PDT by 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.
Regards, Ivan
The bus driver's thought was probably something like "Damn, when did they put in the speed bumps on this intersection?"
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.
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...
Yes, there are.
And I'm dead series. <|:)~
Apparently, that's not all The Queen's subjects have been known to do with traffic/construction cones...
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