Statement from Rep. Gina Mosbrucker on rejection to bring police vehicular pursuit bill to House floor for a vote

On a party-line vote, House Democrats rejected a House Republican motion Tuesday morning to bring House Bill 1363 (vehicular pursuits) out of the Rules Committee and onto the House floor for a vote. Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, R-Goldendale, ranking Republican on the House Community Safety, Justice and Reentry Committee, issued this statement after the vote:

“It's extremely disappointing that the law enforcement vehicular pursuit bill will likely not come to the House floor for a vote before Wednesday's 5 p.m. house of origin cutoff. We are receiving hundreds of emails, letters and phone calls from citizens from throughout the state who are concerned that without a change in the law, criminals will continue to flee from arrests, law enforcement's hands will remain tied, and people will remain less safe.

“We also hear heartbreaking stories of tragedies in communities across the state because law enforcement officers can only watch as criminals drive away. In these cases, the only way to pursue justice and ensure safe neighborhoods are to allow police to do their jobs and pursue, stop and arrest suspects.

“There are still six-and-a-half weeks remaining of the 2023 session. It's my hope we can still secure a reasonable pursuit bill before the end of the session. But today's rejection is very unfortunate and not the way to a safer Washington.”

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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov