Initiative 1474, to authorize police pursuits to prevent violent crime
Key Findings
Initiative 1474 is an initiative to the legislature that would allow the police to pursue criminals when they have a reasonable suspicion that a violent crime has taken place.
If the measure gains enough signatures lawmakers can adopt it next session, propose an alternative or take no action.
If lawmakers do not pass the initiative it will be placed on the November 2023 ballot, possibly with an alternative.
In 2021 the legislature passed a bill, HB 1054, that greatly restricts the ability of police to chase DUI drivers or those who may have broken the law.
Since passage law enforcement data and media reports indicate a widespread rise in crime and of people refusing to stop for the police.
Sponsors call their proposal the “Don’t let bad guys get away” initiative.
Initiative 1474 would partly amend the action taken by the legislature in 2021 and authorize the return of prior standards of police work.
Introduction
A group of concerned citizens called Let’s Go Washington is gathering signatures for a proposed people’s initiative to the legislature, Initiative 1474, to allow the police to pursue someone when there is a reasonable suspicion the person has committed a crime. The measure aims to enhance public safety and the quality of professional policing in communities across the state.
Initiative sponsors need to collect 324,516 valid signatures (8% of the votes cast in the last election for governor) to submit Initiative 1474 for consideration in the 2023 legislative session. The signatures must be received by the Secretary of State’s office by December 30, 2022. If the measure qualifies lawmakers have three choices:
- They can enact the initiative into law as is (the governor’s signature is not required);
- They can take no action, in which case the initiative is forwarded to voters on the November 2023 ballot. If voters approve the initiative it becomes law;
- They can pass their own alternative version, in which case both versions, the original and the legislature’s, will appear on the November 2023 ballot. Voters will first decide if either version should become law and, if so, indicate on the same ballot which one should pass.
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