At the top of the list of concerns for law enforcement agencies is their organization`s motor vehicle tracking policy. Vehicle tracking and the use of the PIT maneuver has the greatest potential for officer injuries, negative public relations, damaged property, and threats of lawsuits. Options to minimize the risk of prosecution may lie in full knowledge of the limitations of the PIT maneuver. During a prosecution, officers are responsible for protecting the public, putting themselves in danger and making decisions under duress. Clearly defined policies and extensive training can significantly reduce the risk of injury to officers and civilians, as well as the threat of prosecution. PIT or Pursuit Immobilization Techniques, maneuvers are used to disable vehicles that engage in a high-speed pursuit with law enforcement officers. PIT maneuvers were first used by the CHP (California Highway Patrol). An academy was opened in West Virginia that taught police officers in the United States advanced driving techniques and police tracking techniques. The PIT maneuver was adopted from the bump-and-run technique used in stock car racing, where a driver hit a competitor in the rear bumper to cause the other car to lose grip and deviate from the ideal line. The PIT maneuver differs from the bump and barrel in that the car is pushed to the side near the rear wheel, causing the vehicle to leak in front. It is illegal to perform this maneuver intentionally in stock car races as it is very dangerous.

The high speed associated with motor racing makes it much easier for drivers to get out another car with a smaller bump than at lower speeds. When applying the PIT maneuver, the speed of the two cars involved determines the distance the car will travel as soon as it is pushed. It is partly for this reason that the higher the speed, the more unpredictable and dangerous the PIT maneuver becomes. This is just one of the very important factors that a police officer must consider before performing the PIT maneuver. In most high-speed tracking situations, property damage is significant to the police and the public. Property can be repaired or replaced, human lives cannot. PIT maneuvers have been used for decades as an effective tool to stop high-speed pursuits. However, they do have risks, and it is these risks that many people use to discuss whether PIT maneuvers are worth using.

With pit technology, you need to approach the fleeing vehicle diagonally from behind. The pursuer must set the speed of the fleeing vehicle as close as possible. With a slight impact, the officer maneuvers the vehicle to gently push the suspect`s rear bumper, intending to turn it into a spin. The officer`s vehicle continues to move forward because the suspect`s vehicle is deactivated. Law enforcement officers use PIT maneuvers to actively stop vehicle tracking. If a suspect does not stop, officers sometimes have the option of forcing the fleeing vehicle into a 180-degree curve. The U.S. Department of Justice confirms that a PIT maneuver will force the suspect`s vehicle to “stop and stop.” The PIT maneuver (Precision Immobilization Technique[1]) or TVI (Tactical Vehicle Intervention) is a pursuit tactic in which a chase car can force a fleeing car to turn sharply to the side, causing the driver to lose control and stop.

[2] It was developed by BSR Inc. and first used by the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia, USA. [2] Other interpretations of the acronym “PIT” include the tracking immobilization technique, the follow-up intervention technique, the parallel immobilization technique, and precision response tactics. The technique is also known as tactical car intervention, tactical ramming, legal intervention and fishtail. Originally known as “tactical shelling” or “legal intervention,” this maneuver was developed and popularized more than a decade ago by BSR Inc., summit point, West Virginia, Advanced Driver Training Center, as a tactical vehicle interception (TVI), a formal training technique for law enforcement. The first major law enforcement agency to teach tvI as a technique for stopping fleeing vehicles was the Fairfax County Police Department (Virginia), which modified the program for police operations and called it “Precision Immobilization Technique,” or P.I.T.[2] While many debate the safety of PIT maneuvers and protest their use because of the risks involved, most people should agree that there are times when using a PIT maneuver has saved many lives. The key is to know when the maneuver should be used and when the scenario should take its course. It is important to weigh the risks and act for the common good.

As the debate on IRP maneuvers continues, studies from across the country and reports from various states such as Georgia and New York will continue to provide valuable information on how to improve the use of PIT maneuvers. U.S. law enforcement officials will continue to use these valuable tools to ensure public safety and prevent suspects from escaping justice. PIT maneuvers are used to prevent a suspicious vehicle from continuing to flee law enforcement. They are also used when law enforcement has reason to believe that a suspect has a purpose or intends to harm as many people as possible. Police officers must assess each specific case of a fleeing vehicle on their own merits. PIT maneuvers work best when used at speeds below 30 to 40 miles per hour. At higher speeds, the risk of injury or death to police officers and the general public increases significantly.

PIT maneuvers, used at slower speeds, are much more effective and are more likely to allow police to stop the suspect and seize his vehicle. Research conducted at the University of South Carolina shows that different speed levels provide radically different results. If speed is a factor, officials will most likely err on the side of caution. Knowing how and especially when to apply a PIT maneuver is essential for the safety of all parties involved. Some people suggest that due to the electronic control systems of many modern vehicles, the guidelines for the use of PIT maneuvers may need to be reconsidered. [5] The Washington Post reports that since 2016, PIT police maneuvers have killed 30 people.