Hey gang,
If you get a chance, check out the Monday story for the link below:
http://www.syracuse.com/poststandard/pageone/
I do not think this story has hit the national scene but it brings up an interesting debate. The trooper was chasing a sportbike on a twisty section of Route 91 up this way and lost control, hit a tree and died. I hate to see anyone leave this world early especially a law enforcement officer with a family but they are really trying to put it to the riders up this way. The thing that gets me is that no one is really talking about how this trooper was driving a Blazer at 100 mph in persuit of the bike. I realize that he had a job to do but that is an unsafe act. I really do not want to start any serious debates but just wanted to bring the story to everyones attention.
Update: They caught a 20 year old driver today and are going to try to charge him with manslaughter. I will try to post the link when it goes up on the website.
Interesting story about motorcycle chase
Moderator: Moderators
Re: Interesting story about motorcycle chase
In my opinion, anyone who tries to outrun Police deserves whatever punishment he gets. If you ride a motorcycle, SUV, or passenger car, engaging in a high speed chase with Police puts innocent persons at risk.hotzuk wrote:Hey gang,
If you get a chance, check out the Monday story for the link below:
http://www.syracuse.com/poststandard/pageone/
I do not think this story has hit the national scene but it brings up an interesting debate. The trooper was chasing a sportbike on a twisty section of Route 91 up this way and lost control, hit a tree and died. I hate to see anyone leave this world early especially a law enforcement officer with a family but they are really trying to put it to the riders up this way. The thing that gets me is that no one is really talking about how this trooper was driving a Blazer at 100 mph in persuit of the bike. I realize that he had a job to do but that is an unsafe act. I really do not want to start any serious debates but just wanted to bring the story to everyones attention. Update: They caught a 20 year old driver today and are going to try to charge him with manslaughter. I will try to post the link when it goes up on the website.
When the red lights start flashing and you're ordered to pull over, do so and take your penalty like a MAN.
Ed..
I'm outta' here!
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iowabeakster
- Quadruple Lifer
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- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2005 5:43 am
- Location: iowa city, ia
I don't what to think. Both persons were using poor judgment. The Biker was breaking the law and deserves punishment for that crime. I would have to say(this is only based on extremely limited knowledge) that the troopers death was probably due to his own negligence, not the biker's. What is the trooper to do? I'm not sure about the availability of back-up or choppers. That would seem the "safe" way of cathching him.
We should be pushing our legislatures, and judges for harsher punishments for people who run from the law. Johnny Racer there should be looking at serious jail time whether the trooper had died or not. Maybe he would have pulled over and paid the fine, if he faced 10 years in prison, lifetime ban on driving, and a $50,000 fine for running from the cops.
We should be pushing our legislatures, and judges for harsher punishments for people who run from the law. Johnny Racer there should be looking at serious jail time whether the trooper had died or not. Maybe he would have pulled over and paid the fine, if he faced 10 years in prison, lifetime ban on driving, and a $50,000 fine for running from the cops.
I was dreaming when I wrote this, forgive me if it goes astray...
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MikeCam
- Centurion Moderator!
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2005 8:05 pm
- Location: Conway River, Virginia
Alternatives
Iowa has a good point.
I think manslaughter is a reach for charges against the fleeing felon.
If my mom has a seizure and calls 911 AND the ambulance or police responders are in a high speed accident with death, will she be charged with manslaughter? That's the other end of the same logic stream.
So no, only those committing a felony by fleeing police are subject to the manslaughter charge. Where does that stop?
The traditional legal concept of manslaughter requires a direct connection between an action of the accused and the action that causes death. A police car forced off the road by a fleeing felon meets that standard. A police car poorly driven beyond reasonable limits by a poorly trained officer does not, regardless of why he was going fast.
The fallacy of IF, THEN Conditionals after the fact is at play here.
But prosecutors love to play to the press. And the public loves to punish anyone they can get their hands on for everything that goes poorly. So there you are.
I think manslaughter is a reach for charges against the fleeing felon.
If my mom has a seizure and calls 911 AND the ambulance or police responders are in a high speed accident with death, will she be charged with manslaughter? That's the other end of the same logic stream.
So no, only those committing a felony by fleeing police are subject to the manslaughter charge. Where does that stop?
The traditional legal concept of manslaughter requires a direct connection between an action of the accused and the action that causes death. A police car forced off the road by a fleeing felon meets that standard. A police car poorly driven beyond reasonable limits by a poorly trained officer does not, regardless of why he was going fast.
The fallacy of IF, THEN Conditionals after the fact is at play here.
But prosecutors love to play to the press. And the public loves to punish anyone they can get their hands on for everything that goes poorly. So there you are.
The Older I Get, The Less I Know.
My oldest brother is a retired Florida Highway Patrolman. 36 years of service. I used to ride with him I my younger days down in Pensacola. They have since stopped that practice, but it was fun.
In the last 15 years or so before his retirement he said the sport bikes had become numerous but minor annoyances. He would turn on his lights to stop one and they would zip across a median or head through narrow alleyways to escape. His opinion on it was, it ain't worth it to chase them. Chances are you will never catch them anyway unless they crash or run into someone else, which was not a desired outcome. His philosophy was that one day they would be in a position to be caught more easily anyway, and he would move on down the road.
I think the macho instinct in the younger LEOs takes over and they don't use common sense.
In the last 15 years or so before his retirement he said the sport bikes had become numerous but minor annoyances. He would turn on his lights to stop one and they would zip across a median or head through narrow alleyways to escape. His opinion on it was, it ain't worth it to chase them. Chances are you will never catch them anyway unless they crash or run into someone else, which was not a desired outcome. His philosophy was that one day they would be in a position to be caught more easily anyway, and he would move on down the road.
I think the macho instinct in the younger LEOs takes over and they don't use common sense.