HLS 23RS-949 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 143
BY REPRESENTATIVE MARCELLE
LAW ENFORCE/CRIM JUS COM: Requests the House Committee on the Administration
of Criminal Justice to study and make recommendations concerning the policies and
procedures of high-speed pursuits by law enforcement officers
1 A RESOLUTION
2To authorize and request the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice, or a
3 subcommittee thereof, to study and make recommendations concerning the policies
4 and procedures of high-speed pursuits by law enforcement officers and to report its
5 findings prior to the convening of the 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature of
6 Louisiana.
7 WHEREAS, in order to safeguard the public and peace officers of this state, it is vital
8for peace officers and the communities they protect to have strong, collaborative
9relationships; and
10 WHEREAS, trust between law enforcement agencies and the citizens they serve is
11essential to the stability of communities, the integrity of the criminal justice system, and the
12safe and effective delivery of public safety services; and
13 WHEREAS, high-speed pursuits can pose many risks to both law enforcement
14officers and the communities they protect due to factors regarding the length or distance of
15the pursuit, the number of law enforcement officers involved in the pursuit, the time of day
16the pursuit takes place, the traffic laws that may need to be circumvented to end the pursuit,
17and other unpredictable variables; and
18 WHEREAS, a review and reassessment of high-speed police pursuits by all law
19enforcement agencies may assist in pursuing and apprehending suspects in a manner which
20protects both the lives of law enforcement officers and the public at large, may strengthen
Page 1 of 4 HLS 23RS-949 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 143
1law enforcement transparency, performance, and accountability, and may improve the
2documentation of evidence; and
3 WHEREAS, the United States Department of Justice categorizes pursuit policies into
4three types as follows:
5 (1) Discretionary policies, which are the least restrictive and allow a law
6enforcement officer to make all decisions, including when to initiate a pursuit and when to
7stop it.
8 (2) Restrictive policies, which allow a law enforcement officer to seek advice from
9his commanding officer or supervisor on whether or not to pursue.
10 (3) Discouraging policies, which are extremely cautious of any pursuits and only
11recommend pursuits when there is no other solution, or the situation is so extreme as to
12endanger the lives of others; and
13 WHEREAS, R.S. 32:24(B) permits the driver of an emergency vehicle, when in the
14pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, to do any of the following:
15 (1) Park or stand.
16 (2) Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down or
17stopping as may be necessary for safe operation.
18 (3) Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as the driver does not endanger life
19or property.
20 (4) Disregard regulations governing the direction of movement or turning in
21specified directions; and
22 WHEREAS, revised high-speed pursuit policies may assist law enforcement agencies
23in pursuing and apprehending suspects in a manner which ensures the safety of both law
24enforcement officers and the communities they protect.
25 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
26Legislature of Louisiana does hereby authorize and request the House Committee on the
27Administration of Criminal Justice, or a subcommittee thereof, to study and make
28recommendations concerning the policies and procedures of high-speed pursuits by law
29enforcement officers and to report its findings to the House of Representatives prior to the
30convening of the 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
Page 2 of 4 HLS 23RS-949 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 143
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, in undertaking the study, that the House Committee
2on the Administration of Criminal Justice, or a subcommittee thereof, may seek input from
3all of the following:
4 (1) The chief of police of the Baton Rouge Police Department, or his designee.
5 (2) The sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish, or his designee.
6 (3) The sheriff of West Baton Rouge Parish, or his designee.
7 (4) Any other interested stakeholders.
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, in undertaking the study, that the House Committee
9on the Administration of Criminal Justice, or a subcommittee thereof, may request research,
10documents, or data, conduct public hearings, and take any other actions it deems necessary
11to carry out its functions.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House Committee on the Administration of
13Criminal Justice shall prepare and submit a final report that contains a detailed statement of
14the findings and policy recommendations to the House of Representatives prior to the
15convening of the 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana, and that such
16recommendations shall include but not be limited to those relative to the following:
17 (1) General guidelines regarding the discretion of law enforcement officers to be
18used before and during high-speed pursuits.
19 (2) Any limitations on the situations in which law enforcement officers are permitted
20to engage in high-speed pursuits.
21 (3) General guidelines regarding law enforcement training relative to each law
22enforcement agency's policies and procedures on high-speed pursuits.
23 (4) Legislation needed, if any, to address high-speed pursuits initiated by law
24enforcement officers in this state.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that one print copy and one electronic copy of any
26report produced pursuant to this Resolution shall be submitted to the David R. Poynter
27Legislative Research Library as required by R.S. 24:772.
Page 3 of 4 HLS 23RS-949 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 143
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 143 Original 2023 Regular Session Marcelle
Authorizes the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice, or a subcommittee
thereof, to study and make recommendations concerning the policies and procedures of high-
speed pursuits by law enforcement officers and to report its findings prior to the convening
of the 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature.
Page 4 of 4