Some pursuits occur when the suspect flees the scene of a crime or an already-speeding subject refuses to stop for the authorities. Other pursuits, however, result when an officer identifies a wanted felon and attempts to make an apprehension. When the officer turns on the lights and sirens to indicate that the suspect should stop, the suspect flees and the officer gives chase. Vehicle interception rests on the premise that most suspects in vehicles will not flee as long as officers keep their lights and sirens off, thus giving deputies the opportunity to develop a plan of containment. A vehicle intercept uses law enforcement automobiles to block in a suspect's vehicle that is slowing, stopped, or just beginning to move at an intersection, driveway, or parking lot.
Officers position their automobiles according to pre-set guidelines and procedures.
A vehicle intercept is not a moving road block, and suspect cars traveling more than 10 miles per hour are not considered viable intercept candidates. In response to a proposal submitted by the authors, the sheriff convened a 10-member committee to examine the vehicle intercept concept and, if it was found plausible, to develop a training module for the department. Sworn personnel from the canine, aviation, training, detective, and patrol bureaus served on the committee. They met over a 1-week period and discussed procedures and guidelines for vehicle intercepts. The committee also conducted some practical experiments to determine the optimum vehicle positioning for intercepts, taking into account concerns for officer safety, such as cross-fire and possible air bag deployment.