In what situation can an officer initiate hot pursuit?

An officer can initiate hot pursuit when a suspect is trying to evade arrest because this situation presents an immediate and ongoing threat to public safety and the integrity of law enforcement efforts. Hot pursuit allows law enforcement officers to pursue a suspect actively fleeing from them to apprehend them without delay. It is based on the necessity to capture the suspect quickly to prevent them from escaping justice or causing further harm.

In a case where the suspect is actively avoiding arrest, the urgency is heightened, justifying the pursuit across jurisdictional lines and without the need for a warrant. This urgency is often dependent on the nature of the crime, the context of the situation, and the potential for evidence destruction or additional criminal activity if the officer were to delay in their pursuit.

In contrast, situations involving a misdemeanor, a reported crime by a witness, or mere traffic violations do not inherently carry the same level of immediacy or risk that would warrant initiating a hot pursuit. Each of these scenarios can often be addressed through standard law enforcement procedures rather than the urgent need for rapid pursuit.