An AWC priority bill to revise police pursuit restrictions is set for a hearing. We urge city officials to sign up to testify and speak to your local legislators about the need to support this bill. HB 1363, sponsored by Alicia Rule (D–Blaine), revises the pursuits restrictions to use a ‘reasonable suspicion’ standard as well as other safety measures.

Updating the restrictions around vehicle pursuits is a 2023 legislative priority for Washington cities. AWC has been working with sponsors on this vehicular pursuit bill that has a ‘reasonable suspicion’ standard, which is essential to address concerns about impacts to public safety and allow for effective and safe pursuit of suspects when there is an immediate threat to public safety.

In a recent public opinion survey commissioned by AWC we asked 500 likely voters from around the state their opinions on this issue. 79% indicated support for changing the pursuit restrictions to use a reasonable suspicion standard.

In order to engage in a pursuit, HB 1363 would require that:

• Officers must have reasonable suspicion that a person in the vehicle has committed or is committing a criminal offense.
• Officers comply with agencies procedures designating the primary pursuit vehicle and determining the appropriate number of vehicles to conduct the pursuit.
• The pursuing officer, supervisor, or dispatch must notify neighboring agencies.
• The pursuing officer must be able to directly communicate with other officers engaging in the pursuit and the dispatch agency.
• The pursuing officer, supervising officer or agency develop a plan to end the pursuit through intervention (spike strips, etc.).
• The pursuing officer has completed an emergency vehicle operator’s course, updated emergency vehicle operator training within two years, and is certified in at least one pursuit intervention option.

Importantly, the bill does not prohibit cities from adopting more restrictive pursuit standards or limitations.

Additional police pursuits proposals

Both the House and Senate will also hear bills that would task the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) to create vehicular pursuit recommendations and establish grant programs to help fund acquisition of new technology for tracking vehicles (i.e., license plate readers, GPS darts). SB 5533, sponsored by Sen. John Lovick (D-Mill Creek), directs the CTJC to develop a model policy for pursuits along with establishing a grant program for deploying new technology to track vehicles. HB 1586, sponsored by Rep. Roger Goodman (D–Kirkland), directs the CJTC to establish a work group to develop legislative recommendations as well as establishes a grant program similar to the other proposal. AWC supports the concept of asking the CJTC to develop a model policy and additional recommendations, but neither of these two bills addresses the immediate need to clarify the current restrictions on pursuits. AWC also supports the efforts to create a new grant program to deploy technology to reduce the need for pursuits. AWC will support the intentions of these two bills while asking the legislature to also pass HB 1363.

Dates to remember

HB 1363 and HB 1586 are scheduled for public hearing in the House Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry committee on Tuesday, January 31 at 4 pm.

SB 5533 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Law & Justice committee on Monday, January 30 at 10:30 am and is scheduled for a vote in that committee on Thursday, February 2 at 8 am.

Additional resources

Want to read more about vehicular pursuits? Check out our fact sheet on the topic or read last week’s article.

Learn how to sign up to testify by watching AWC’s short instructional video. Don’t forget to let us know if you plan to testify! You can email Canidice or Katherine.