Court: High-speed chase suspects can't sue police

CNN Washington Bureau ^ | April 30, 2007 | Bill Mears

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

And exactly what kind of labor would he be doing?

I don't know. Maybe running some kind of machinery 8 hours a day using pedals ?

[Little Ray]

Testing pain killers, allegy medicines, and anti-venoms for insect and snake bites.
“Oops. That one doesn’t work too well, does it?”

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

OK, that was in bad taste. The point is I can’t feel sorry for this guy. He is 100% responsible for what happened to him.

[macmedic892]

"Taxpayers should sue the teen for damages to the police car! He should not get his driving permit back until the bill is paid."

" Umm... yeah. The kid's a quadriplegic. I don't think he'll be driving at all anymore."

Since he's a quad and a criminal, what do you think the chances are that he has medical insurance? Naw, the taxpayers will be on the hook paying for his medical care via Medicaid until he gets an infected sacral decubitus and bites the dust.

[Little Ray]

Maybe, maybe not. But they can take steps to make sure they NEVER do...

[JamesP81]

I think the real question here was whether, as a policy matter, we want to encourage police chases for low-level offenses. Clearly, the Supreme Court found that we want to encourage police chases, but I'm not sure it is the best policy, especially given the technology that is available today.

There is much to what you say here, and I agree that it's not appropriate to chase someone at 100 mph in order to write him a speeding ticket.

[radar101]

Well, Dr. Zzyzx—After you have “Been there”, come back and tell me what is “Reasonable”.

You see, the General Public gives “Situational Approval”. If it is someone who has harmed them, they want a forceful pursuit. If they might get hit in their car, they dont want you to chase anyone.

Damned if you do—Damned if you do not.

[xjcsa]

Translation here please.

Sevenofnine speaks her own language; I doubt a translator's available.

[JamesP81]

I’d tell ‘em to sue the perp and his family for all they worth, right down to their organs and the fillings in their teeth.

No. Punish the actor of the crime, not his family. This one of the stupidest ideas I've come across all year.

[Publius Valerius]

Maybe, maybe not. But they can take steps to make sure they NEVER do...

Ok, so what--let's say you've got a $10 million judgment against the guy that was running from police. Unless he can pay--which, chances are, he can't--you've got a worthless piece of paper.

Again, my question is, then, what do you tell to the innocent person who is injured or had his property destroyed by the police chase policy? Somehow, I don't think having a piece of paper will be comforting to them.

[Star Traveler]

Y’all were wondering about that poster’s comment —

“How about suing the suspect of the car chase that work for me I wonder was victim was on CELL PHONE HELLO”

—

Well, let me give it a try, with some appropriate punctuation and a word or two added....

How about suing the suspect of the car chase? That works for me. I wonder..., was the “victim” was on his CELL PHONE? HELLO??!!

It appears that some people do a “brain dump” without punction, along with a few missing and misplaced words....

Does that work? LOL

[JamesP81]

Rationalizations. If you are really willing to discuss the subject, give some better reasons. Do you really think the primary reason for having a car that can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds is just in case you have to rush to the hospital?

Are you advocating we outlaw all cars that can exceed the speed limit?

And FYI, I'm planning on buying such a car (the one I'm looking at only does 0 to 60 in 5.2, but that's enough to suit me). Should I go to jail?

[Star Traveler]

I gave it a shot at post #51... :-)

[miliantnutcase]

My in-law is a state trooper and he sometimes brings over his tapes of chases and “incidents”. It’s like a popcorn and movie night. fun stuff.

[macmedic892]

In addition to becoming a quadriplegic he should have also got 10 years of hard labor.

And exactly what kind of labor would he be doing? ;-)

Turn his power chair into a steam roller and have him out paving highways? (Make sure to install a speed governor on his HoverRound so he can't get away.)

[xjcsa]

Clearly, the Supreme Court found that we want to encourage police chases...

I'm not sure that's true; it seems to me that they found that it's the police department's decision whether to encourage them or not.

[xjcsa]

Do you really think the primary reason for having a car that can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds is just in case you have to rush to the hospital?

What does acceleration speed have to do with speed limits or with your argument? Is accelerating from 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds illegal?

[Publius Valerius]

Fair enough—I suppose the better articulation is that it found that it did not want to discourage them.

[xjcsa]

I don't know. Maybe running some kind of machinery 8 hours a day using pedals?

How does a quadriplegic operate pedals?

[rednesss]

Just wait until Sheryl Crow has her way and then that piece of paper will come in quite handy.