The purpose of this ordinance shall be to determine the necessity
of commencing a vehicle pursuit and the method to be employed in conducting
such pursuit.
As used in this ordinance, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Legal references are as follows:
A. Section 1103, New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
B. Section 1104, New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
C. Section 1144, New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
A police officer employed by the Incorporated Village of Sag
Harbor shall be guided by the following regulations when involved
in a pursuit of a motor vehicle:
A. Initiate vehicle stop when feasible.
B. Determine the necessity for commencing and continuing a vehicle pursuit
by considering the following:
(4)
Location and population density.
(5)
Capability of the Department vehicle.
(6)
Familiarity with the area.
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(NOTE: Department policy requires that a vehicle pursuit be
terminated whenever the risks to uniformed members of the service
and the public outweigh the danger to the community; if the suspect
is not immediately apprehended; if the chase is terminated, members
will attempt to obtain sufficient information to effect apprehension.)
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C. Notify the radio dispatcher at the start of pursuit and provide the
following information:
(2)
Type of vehicle, color and direction of travel.
(4)
Registration number and state of registration.
(6)
Any pertinent information.
D. Maintain radio communication with the dispatcher, but do not depress
the transmitter key unnecessarily, and keep radio transmissions brief
and to the point.
E. Utilize the vehicle's emergency signaling devices intelligently.
(1)
Do not use the constant position on siren since it tends to
distort radio transmissions and blot out the sound of approaching
vehicles.
F. Inform the dispatcher if the vehicle changes direction or if you
have lost said vehicle.
(1)
Give the last location, speed and direction of travel to the
radio operator.
G. Speed to be used:
(1)
Sustained speed.
(a)
Sustained speed within Village limits is not to exceed 65 miles
per hour.
(b)
The definition of "sustained speed" is: more than 1/2 mile.
(2)
Speed outside of jurisdiction is not to exceed 75 miles per
hour.
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(NOTE: When reasonable grounds exist that a felony has been
committed involving deadly physical force, the above guidelines may
be exceeded but shall not absolve the police officer of his obligations
and responsibilities toward other users of the highway.)
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H. Secondary vehicle responsibility.
(1)
Any other units shall stay off the air except in extreme emergencies
and stay clear of the pursuit but remain alert to its progress. They
will not join in or interfere with the pursuit vehicle.
(2)
If a secondary vehicle is requested, it will be either to go
to a strategic position or as a backup when the pursued vehicle is
stopped. At no time will there be a caravan of cars involved in a
chase.
(3)
If the chase is terminated, the primary vehicle may ask assistance
of other units to check out the area where the vehicle was last seen.
I. Remember that, as a primary vehicle, you have a responsibility to
operate a vehicle at a speed that is reasonable and prudent under
present road conditions and not interfere with the free and proper
use of the public highway and not endanger other users of the public
highway.