← Back to browse
HR 5143 Passed a chamber

Allows District of Columbia police to chase fleeing vehicles unless the officer or a supervisor reasonably believes the chase poses an unacceptable risk to others, is futile, or that another method would work more effectively or quickly.

Official title: District of Columbia Policing Protection Act of 2025

Next stop Senate: awaiting action
Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions
House
Introduced 04-SEP-2025
Referred 04-SEP-2025
Approved by committee 10-SEP-2025
On the calendar 15-SEP-2025
Passed 17-SEP-2025
Senate
Received 18-SEP-2025
Key points
  • Removes most existing limits on vehicular pursuits by law enforcement officers in the District of Columbia
  • Permits a pursuit unless the officer or a higher-ranking supervisor reasonably believes it carries an unacceptable risk of harm to others, is futile, or that another method can apprehend the suspect more effectively or expeditiously
  • Excludes sworn federal law enforcement officers of covered federal agencies from the definition of law enforcement officer under the amended law
  • Requires the Attorney General, within 3 years, to evaluate the costs and benefits of the Metropolitan Police Department adopting PursuitAlert or similar pursuit alert technology and report to four congressional committees
AI-generated from the Engrossed in House text of 17-SEP-2025 · verify · report an error
Official CRS summary

Covers an older version. The newest CRS summary describes the bill as of "Introduced in House" (04-SEP-2025); the text has changed since (Engrossed in House, 17-SEP-2025).

CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Read it on congress.gov
Committee referrals (1) Policy area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Sponsor Clay Higgins (R-LA) Cosponsors · 2
■ 2 R
2 Republicans