Initiative 2113

Restoring Police Pursuits

Initiative Measure No. 2113 concerns vehicular pursuits by peace officers.

This measure would remove certain restrictions on vehicular pursuits, allowing them upon conditions including an officer’s reasonable suspicion a person has violated the law and poses a threat to the safety of others.

Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]

BALLOT SUMMARY

This measure would remove certain restrictions on when peace officers may engage in vehicular pursuits. Such pursuits would be allowed when the officer has a reasonable suspicion a person has violated the law, pursuit is necessary to identify or apprehend the person, the person poses a threat to the safety of others, those safety risks are greater than those of the pursuit, and a supervisor authorizes the pursuit.

FIXING BAD POLICY

House Bill 1054 (2021): Raised the standard for vehicular police pursuits from “reasonable suspicion” to “probable cause” — the standard typically required for a warrant or arrest — for all but a narrow list of crimes. Although Senate Bill 5352 was passed in 2023 to restore the “reasonable suspicion” standard for some offenses, vehicular pursuits are still prohibited for the vast majority of crimes: See below.

OUR POSITION

  • This initiative would restore vehicular pursuit options for law enforcement. It would empower police officers and have an immediate, positive impact on community safety.  
  • Since 2021, when Democrats passed HB 1054, criminals have felt emboldened and law enforcement has felt abandoned. Criminals know if they can get to a vehicle, they can drive away from the police.
    • This misguided policy has directly contributed to our state’s public safety crisis. Communities are less safe. This experiment has failed. House Republicans want to fix this mistake.
    • House Republicans have sponsored bills in the last three legislative sessions to restore vehicle pursuit options for law enforcement.
    • The Legislature passed a watered-down version (SB 5352) in 2023, but it was not enough.
  • Concerned residents across Washington, law enforcement, local elected officials, business groups, and editorial boards across our state are asking for the Legislature to take action on this issue.
  • Video: House floor debate highlights on HB 1054 – Police tactics and equipment (2021)

I-2113 AT A GLANCE

INITIATIVE FILED: May 25, 2023
SIGNATURES SUBMITTED: 434,594
SIGNATURES REQUIRED: 324,516
DATE CERTIFIED: Jan. 11, 2024
HOUSE COMMITTEE: Community Safety, Justice & Reentry
SENATE COMMITTEE: Law & Justice
ACTION TAKEN: After Republicans made a motion and wrote a letter to the committee chair requesting a public hearing for I-2113, a committee hearing was held on Feb. 28. The initiative was passed out of committee March 1. I-2113 was passed by the House (77-20) and Senate (36-13) on March 4. The initiative will now become law on June 6.

HOUSE & SENATE VOTES

COMMITTEE ACTIVITY

MOTION FOR HEARING

THE PROPOSED LAW

House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary argues in favor of his motion to hold a public hearing in the House Community Safety, Justice & Reentry Committee on I-2113. Majority-party Democrats locked up against the motion to defeat it on a party-line vote. View vote count →

“REASONABLE” VEHICULAR PURSUITS CURRENTLY BANNED FOR THESE OFFENSES

List supplied by Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs. Offenses listed with a number 1, 2 or 3 indicate 1st, 2nd or 3rd degree offenses.

List supplied by Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs. Offenses listed with a number 1, 2 or 3 indicate 1st, 2nd or 3rd degree offenses.

  • Hit and run resulting in death
  • Residential burglary
  • Hate crimes
  • Taking a motor vehicle without permission 1
  • Civil disorder training
  • Criminal mistreatment 1
  • Malicious explosion of a substance 3
  • Malicious placement of an explosive
  • Assault of a child 2
  • Criminal mischief
  • Delivery of firearms to ineligible person
  • Assemblages of saboteurs
  • Bringing narcotics, liquor, or weapons into state institution or grounds
  • Violating a protection order
  • Leading organized crime
  • Unlawful possession of a firearm 1
  • Theft of a firearm
  • Stalking
  • Assault 3 of a peace officer with a stun gun
  • Assault 3
  • Assault by watercraft
  • Assault of a Child 3
  • Endangerment with a controlled substance
  • Burglary 2
  • Organized retail theft 1
  • Possession of incendiary device
  • Possession of machine gun, bump-fire stock, undetectable firearm, or short-barreled shotgun or rifle
  • Trafficking in stolen property 1
  • Unlawful imprisonment
  • Malicious mischief 1
  • Possession of stolen vehicle
  • Theft 1
  • Theft of motor vehicle

Note: The ballot title, which appears in the dark gray box, and the ballot summary are supplied by the Office of the Attorney General as the official language of this initiative to the Legislature. Signatures submitted source: Secretary of State