Why are police allowed to chase cars at high speeds, and endanger even more lives?

Answer 1

Why?  Because they are chasing a person who has committed a crime!  However, they can only do this for so long and then have to back off and wait for another opportunity.

Answer 2

The general rule is letting the criminal go may be more dangerous. Another concern is if the department has a "no chase" policy, more people will run, causing a greater danger.

In my state, every department is required to have a policy on pursuits, and that policy must be approved the the state Training and Standards Bureau. 

Answer 3

                    

Answer 4

Nearly ALL jurisdictions limit the conditions in which police can engage in a chase. In SOME cases, NOT pursuing the person endangers more lives than chasing them.

Answer 5

The bad guy is the one at fault.

Answer 6

If they're chasing someone, that person did something that warranted it, and let's be honest, they're the ones who are attempting dangerous maneuvers that cause accidents.  Car chases don't typically end the way you're thinking, and letting someone go just because they are in a car tells criminals that they can get away with whatever they want as long as they're driving away.  That wouldn't really make any sense. 

Answer 7

The rules governing when they can and can not are all based on risk and threat. A high speed pursuit is only authorized when the possible benefit out weighs the risk. Often the pursuit is only long enough for a helicopter or other aircraft to get the object of the pursuit into sight.

They are only authorized because the threat to the public is already great enough justify the risk.

Answer 8

The cars that they are chasing pose more danger than the police do.

Answer 9

Someone just cut your mother’s guts out and they are headed for your kids. But that’s alright; no need for the cops to chase them. 

Answer 10

It depends upon who they're chasing. Why should we let criminals drive fast to get away?