Idaho could gain from this mistake

Local law enforcement agencies are struggling to keep good cops and recruit new ones.

So how’s this for an employment sales pitch:

Come to Idaho, where motorists actually pull over when they see your flashing lights

OK, it’s a bit wordy, but the attraction to Washington law enforcement officers could be compelling. Here’s why.

According to a recent AP story in The Press, our neighbors to the west are experiencing unprecedented incidences of law-breaking motorists refusing to pull over when they see those unmistakable lights in their rearview mirrors.

It’s not just a surge of flagrant “up yours, coppers.” It’s actually the predictable outcome of some shortsighted legislation concocted by the Washington legislature.

Reacting to the George Floyd murder, liberal-leaning legislators last year handcuffed LEOs by severely restricting their ability to engage in high-speed pursuits.

“Under the new law, police officers can’t give chase unless there’s reasonable suspicion to believe the driver is impaired or the higher standard of probable cause to believe they’re an escaped felon or have committed a violent crime or a sex crime,” AP reports. “Even then there are restrictions on when officers can pursue. Officers must balance whether the person poses an 'imminent threat' and whether the safety risks of the person getting away outweigh the danger of engaging in a high-speed chase.”

As a result, increasing numbers of offenders and likely offenders know there’s really nothing the cop behind them can do if they simply continue driving. So that’s what they do.

While the intent behind the law has some justification — hot pursuits, as they’re called, can go terribly wrong — the pendulum has swung too far now in favor of law-breakers.

Washington legislators will likely correct this mistake, but until then, maybe we can leverage an opportunity.

Let’s call it hot pursuit for frustrated cops to join Idaho's more balanced system of law and order.