Putnam County is changing its vehicle pursuit policy to allow deputies to chase any fleeing motorist, a shift from the previous rule that limited chases to suspects of violent felonies, DUIs, or reckless driving.

The update aims to address a growing problem of drivers fleeing from law enforcement during traffic stops.

Major David Ussery of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office explained the change. “Everybody is running from us now. They know if we turn our blue lights on, keep going,” he said.

The new policy will mirror the Florida Highway Patrol’s recently updated pursuit guidelines, which loosened restrictions on when troopers can initiate chases.

However, this change has come with risks. A recent study showed that fatal crashes involving FHP pursuits tripled from five in 2023 to 15 in

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