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Congress·Passed House·H.R. 5143

D.C. Police: New Rules for Car Chases

District of Columbia Policing Protection Act of 2025

6 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House

245182

Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • Congress is changing the rules for when police in Washington, D.C. can chase suspects in cars. This bill removes several strict limits from a 2022 local law, making it easier for officers to pursue people who try to drive away from a crime scene.
  • Under the new rules, officers are allowed to start a car chase unless they or their supervisor believe it is too dangerous for bystanders, won't work, or if there is a better way to catch the person. This gives officers more power to use their judgment during an emergency.
  • The bill also requires the Department of Justice to study new technology that would send alerts to people's phones or cars if a high-speed police chase is happening nearby. This study must be finished within three years to see if the technology helps keep the public safe.
  • This change specifically affects the Metropolitan Police Department and clarifies that federal law enforcement officers working in the city are not bound by these specific local D.C. pursuit rules.

Political Response

Milestones

3 milestones15 actions
Sep 18, 2025Senate

Received in the Senate.

Sep 17, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Sep 17, 2025House

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 245 - 182 (Roll no. 275). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4379)

Sep 17, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 245 - 182 (Roll no. 275). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4379)

Sep 17, 2025House

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4395)

Vote Results

1 vote
HousePassedPassageSep 17, 2025

On Passage

245
182
Democrat
29182 · 2
Republican
2160 · 3
View full roll call

Related Bills

1 bill
H.Res. 707Related bill

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4922) to limit youth offender status in the District of Columbia to individuals 18 years of age or younger, to direct the Attorney General of the District of Columbia to establish and operate a publicly accessible website containing updated statistics on juvenile crime in the District of Columbia, to amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to prohibit the Council of the District of Columbia from enacting changes to existing criminal liability sentences, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5143) to establish standards for law enforcement officers in the District of Columbia to engage in vehicular pursuits of suspects, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5140) to lower the age at which a minor may be tried as an adult for certain criminal offenses in the District of Columbia to 14 years of age; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5125) to amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to terminate the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1047) to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reform the interconnection queue process for the prioritization and approval of certain projects, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3015) to reestablish the National Coal Council in the Department of Energy to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on matters related to coal and the coal industry, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3062) to establish a more uniform, transparent, and modern process to authorize the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of international border-crossing facilities for the import and export of oil and natural gas and the transmission of electricity; and for other purposes.

Sep 17Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 722, H.Res. 707 is amended.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

District of Columbia Policing Protection Act of 2025

Bill NumberHR 5143
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReceived in the Senate.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(2)
R: 2

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