[speakfreely]

> you shouldn't be starting a high speed pursuit over a seat belt violation, or for someone going 5 over the speed limit.

That's the thing: normal people don't. Violent criminals, people with active arrest warrants, and people carrying highly illegal/dangerous things in their vehicles are the types that run from traffic stops.

[hkpack]

What about depressed people? What about stressed people? What about people with autism who overreact when spooked? What about people on the edge who didn't care about the consequences because of the life situation?

What about people who are convinced that police may kill them for mild violation as they saw that multiple times on the news and social media? The reaction to flee may be justified at the moment as it is life or death anyway, even if only in their heads.

There are a lot of "normal" people around who will act abnormally in a high stress situation.

[closeparen]

Driving on public roads carries a responsibility to respond reasonably in all kinds of stressful situations. People incapable of handling a traffic stop should not be licensed.

[zimpenfish]

> Driving on public roads carries a responsibility to respond reasonably in all kinds of stressful situations.

Yes.

> People incapable of handling a traffic stop should not be licensed.

Also yes. But both of those points apply to the (US) cops and they frequently fail on both points (the first amply demonstrated by how many police chases end up in crashes and/or deaths; the second by any one of thousands of videos showing where the cops needlessly escalate traffic stops.)

[SauntSolaire]

You're literally just making up scenarios in your head.

[dns_snek]

No they're not, people have irrational reactions to things all the time, especially under stress. Getting startled, panicking, and fleeing is definitely one of those.

People will confess to crimes they didn't commit if the police are persuasive enough, that's why such evidence is illegal.

[ashtakeaway]

Thank you for speaking to reality of situations that the majority of internet commenters never talk about. I think dang needs to put the HN member lock back on.

[zimpenfish]

> Violent criminals, people with active arrest warrants, and people carrying highly illegal/dangerous things in their vehicles are the types that run from traffic stops.

I beg you to watch the John Oliver segment where he gives several counter-examples to this narrative.