Both parties were heavily split when voting on a bill in the Washington state House of Representatives around midnight on Tuesday, April 11, that partially lessened the burden of law enforcement to receive evidence before initiating a vehicle pursuit.
It passed 57-40.
In 2021, alongside a suite of other police reform legislation, the state implemented a new law restricting law enforcement’s ability to pursue a fleeing vehicle. House Bill 1054 requires “probable cause” for pursuits, rather than “reasonable suspicion,” as was previously used.
Engrossed Senate Bill 5352 “lowers the evidentiary threshold required” for obtaining probable cause in various situations, including violent and sex offenses, vehicular assaults, escapes, driving under the influence or domestic violence where pursuit is “necessary for the purpose of identifying or apprehending the person.”
Since the start of the 2023 session, Republicans have talked about public safety as a priority and expressed hope to roll back parts of the 2021 reforms.
Some area lawmakers think the bill didn’t go far enough.
Representatives from the 19th Legislative District Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, and Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet, both voted against the bill. They issued a joint statement calling it “watered-down” and said it doesn’t go far enough to “protect communities and assist law enforcement.”
“We need to move this disastrous policy back in the right direction. The ‘reasonable suspicion’ standard for police pursuits of criminals and criminal suspects must be restored,” the statement read. “(HB 1054) has caused a surge in stolen vehicles and those fleeing from police, among other crimes.”
Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, R-Goldendale, the ranking Republican on the House Community Safety, Justice and Reentry Committee, voted “yes” on the Senate bill, saying it’s better than existing law, according to a news release from her staff.
While no statement was made by either, 20th District Reps. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, and Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama were also split, voting “yes” and “no,” respectively.
Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, the House Minority Leader, also voted against the bill.
Representatives of the 35th district, which covers much of South Thurston County, expressed the sentiments of their neighbors in the 19th.
“The few crumbs the majority party allowed in this bill fall far short of what our police have asked for and do not give them the tools they need to keep our communities and themselves safe,” wrote Rep. Dan Griffey, R-Allyn.
Travis Couture, R-Allyn, wrote, “This bill will not keep people safe. Instead, it will continue to allow criminals to get away with an exhaustive list of felonies and misdemeanors, including auto thefts, human trafficking and certain kinds of assault.”
The bill will go back to the Senate for further consideration before heading to the governor’s desk. It passed the Senate last month 26-23.
