New York City's streets are at the center of a debate regarding police pursuit policies and their impact on crime, particularly scooter-related robberies. A recent social media post from Viral News NYC, dated August 7, 2025, highlighted concerns that the New York City Police Department's (NYPD) "no-chase" orders are enabling scooter robbery crews, who exploit the perceived lack of pursuit due to legal liability. This comes as the NYPD implemented a significant change to its vehicle pursuit guidelines earlier this year.
Effective February 1, 2025, the NYPD's updated policy restricts high-speed chases to cases involving "only the most serious and violent crimes," specifically felonies or violent misdemeanors. Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch stated that the new regulations aim to enhance street and roadway safety by reducing crashes, injuries, and deaths associated with pursuits in the densely populated city. This policy explicitly prohibits chases for traffic violations, nonviolent misdemeanors, and other low-level offenses, citing the potential for undue risk to both the public and officers.
The tweet from Viral News NYC directly challenged the effectiveness of these restrictions, claiming, > "One of the top reasons NYPD can’t catch scooter robbery crews: Cops are ordered to stand down and not pursue, even when they know exactly who did it." The post further asserted that these "strict 'no-chase' policies come directly from City Hall" due to liability concerns, leading criminals to believe "no one’s coming after them." This perspective suggests a disconnect between the official policy, which allows pursuit for serious crimes like robbery, and the operational realities or perceived limitations faced by officers.
However, official data from the Mayor's office presents a contrasting picture regarding the trend of moped and scooter-related crime. As of November 2024, New York City reported an 85.7% decrease in grand larceny patterns and a 68.2% decrease in robbery patterns involving mopeds and scooters year-to-date compared to the same period last year. Mayor Eric Adams attributed this significant decline to the NYPD's intensified efforts to confiscate illegal and unregistered vehicles, with over 100,000 such vehicles seized since the start of his administration.
Prior to the February 2025 policy, the NYPD had seen a notable increase in vehicle pursuits in 2023 and 2024, partly in response to a surge in illegal scooters and ATVs. Chief of Patrol John Chell had previously indicated a more aggressive stance on pursuing criminals using these vehicles. The current policy represents a shift, prioritizing public safety and liability reduction while officially maintaining the ability to pursue suspects involved in serious felony offenses.
The ongoing discussion highlights the complex balance between aggressive law enforcement, public safety, and legal accountability in New York City. While authorities point to successful vehicle confiscations and a reduction in related crime patterns, public and internal concerns persist regarding the practical implications of pursuit restrictions on apprehending offenders.