New Jersey AG Lifts Restrictions on Car Chases
New Jersey’s attorney general shifted gears on a policy that prevented officers from pursuing stolen vehicles in response to rising car thefts in the state.
Acting Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced the reversal, enabling officers to initiate more car chases amid a spike in crime.
Vehicle
thefts in the state are up 37% this year compared to the number of vehicles stolen year-to-date in 2021, and there is a 53% rise compared to the year-to-date thefts in 2020, Platkin said. There were 14,321 vehicles stolen in 2021, the acting attorney general added.
“We are seeing a rise in auto theft … So this is a serious threat to our state’s safety, but it’s also why we’re here today because we are responding to these numbers,” he said at a press conference on Friday, where he announced that Gov. Phil Murphy would invest $10 million in license plate recognition technology.
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The policy revision that Platkin is undoing, which went into effect under former acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck, prevented an
officer
from initiating a car chase if the driver was speeding or recklessly driving unless officers determined the driver “poses an imminent threat to the safety of the public or other officers,”
according to
the New Jersey Globe.
The
policy
was aimed at protecting both the public and police officers from collateral damage, with over 10% of vehicular pursuits ending in accidents that result in the injuries or fatalities of “officers, innocent third parties in vehicles unrelated to the pursuit, and pedestrians,” according to the policy.
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New Jerseyians should lock their cars as a preventative measure, Platkin tweeted Friday.
“Leaving your key fob in an unlocked car or leaving a car running and unattended is an open invitation to thieves who need a vehicle to carry out their criminal agenda. Help us fight back by following these tips to help keep your vehicle safe,” he wrote.
Platkin did not respond to the
Washington Examiner’s
request for comment.
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