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District of Columbia Policing Protection Act of 2025

9/24/2025, 5:05 PM

Summary of Bill HR 5143

H.R. 5143 of the 119th Congress, introduced on September 4, 2025, aims to establish standards for law enforcement officers in the District of Columbia regarding engaging in vehicular pursuits of suspects, among other purposes.

Congressional Summary of HR 5143

District of Columbia Policing Protection Act

This bill repeals restrictions on the circumstances under which law enforcement officers in the District of Columbia (DC) may engage in vehicular pursuits (i.e., police chases) of suspects fleeing in motor vehicles, and instead generally requires such pursuits in the absence of other means of apprehension.

Currently, pursuant to DC's Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, law enforcement officers generally may not engage in vehicular pursuits of suspects fleeing in motor vehicles unless the officer reasonably believes (1) the suspect was involved in a crime of violence or poses an immediate and serious threat to another person, (2) the pursuit is necessary to prevent that threat and is not likely to result in death or serious injury to any person, and (3) all other options have been exhausted or are unreasonable given the circumstances.

The bill repeals these restrictions and instead requires law enforcement officers to engage in vehicular pursuits of suspects fleeing in motor vehicles unless the officer or a higher-ranking officer reasonably believes that (1) such pursuit would be futile, (2) the pursuit would entail an unacceptable risk of harm to a person other than the suspect, or (3) the suspect can be apprehended more effectively or expeditiously by other means.

The bill also requires the Department of Justice to report to Congress on the costs and benefits of DC’s Metropolitan Police Department adopting technology that alerts the public of an active police pursuit in their immediate vicinity. 

Read the Full Bill

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Current Status of Bill HR 5143

Bill HR 5143 is currently in the status of Introduced to Senate since September 18, 2025. Bill HR 5143 was introduced during Congress 119 and was introduced to the House on September 4, 2025.  Bill HR 5143's most recent activity was Received in the Senate. as of September 18, 2025

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 5143

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
0
Republican Sponsors
1
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
3
Democrat Cosponsors
0
Republican Cosponsors
3
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 5143

Primary Policy Focus

Crime and Law Enforcement

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 5143

To establish standards for law enforcement officers in the District of Columbia to engage in vehicular pursuits of suspects, and for other purposes.
To establish standards for law enforcement officers in the District of Columbia to engage in vehicular pursuits of suspects, and for other purposes.

Comments

Sponsors and Cosponsors of HR 5143

Clay Higgins
Clay Higgins
LouisianaRepublican
Byron Donalds
Byron Donalds
FloridaRepublican
Joe Wilson
Joe Wilson
South CarolinaRepublican

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