Pinellas County deputies to seize vehicles fleeing authorities

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Pinellas County drivers who flee from deputies will now have their vehicles impounded following a recent increase in deaths from crashes linked to police pursuits, according to the sheriff's office.

“This is becoming more and more common and it needs to stop,” said Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.

At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Gualtieri said that starting Tuesday, the agency can now seize and confiscate a vehicle that flees from deputies during a stop, pursuant to the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act.

Gualtieri shared crash data from the National Highway Safety Institute that indicates fatal crashes due to police pursuits kill an average of one person per day in the United States.

Other data he shared also shows that deaths linked to police pursuits increased by 40% between 2019 and 2022 in the country.

In Pinellas County, the sheriff reported there were 1,042 instances of deputies fleeing and hinting when someone was arrested.

“The data shows that these incidents are numerous and that they are deadly,” he said at the press conference.

Through the use of dashcams installed on deputies' vehicles, the agency will arrest the driver, seize the vehicle and then sell it.

Gualtieri clarified that not all captured vehicles will be seized during the pursuit, based on a policy change made by the sheriff's office in 2014.

The sheriff said the department averaged 100 pursuits per year before the policy change. Since then, it now averages 10 prosecutions per year, including only five prosecutions in 2023.

“The low number of prosecutions doesn’t mean people aren’t fleeing,” Gualtieri said. “This means we do not actively engage in dangerous, high-speed pursuits when fleeing because we value life over traffic and property violations.”

Cases described as necessary for prosecution include when a person is involved in a violent crime, poses a threat to the community or is driving dangerously.

In the middle of Wednesday's press conference, a video was played showing a compilation of various activities in Pinellas County. Video showed a crash that left a 16-year-old dead after three teenagers allegedly stole a car.

“It crashed, it crashed!” someone in the clip can be heard saying as the car crashed into a sign in front of a building on 62nd Avenue North.

Another clip showed a May 18 crash in Largo, in which a vehicle fleeing authorities crashed into an ambulance and left three people seriously injured.

Gualtieiri cited the main reasons people flee because the driver is drunk, has drugs, has a suspended driver's license, has an outstanding arrest warrant or because the car was stolen.

“There is a simple solution to the problem: If you break the law, don't run from the cops. And most importantly, don't hurt or kill someone because you don't want to be held accountable for your actions.”

The sheriff said if the person driving the fleeing car is not the owner, the affected owner will receive written notice regarding the incident. They will be warned that if the same person drives their car again while fleeing authorities, then their car will be seized and sold.

“If you do it and they run again, then it's your fault and you're going to lose your car,” Gualtieri said.

He also explained that the rule would also apply to car rental companies.

Florida law states that it is a crime to flee and evade an officer.

“If you own a car and value it, don’t run from the cops,” Gualtieri said. “If you own a car and like it, don’t lend it to someone you know is running from the police.”