Sponsors (5)
The bill gives states and localities federal grant authority to acquire pursuit‑management technologies that can reduce dangerous high‑speed chases, but it also raises privacy, ongoing cost, and liability risks for communities and governments.
Law enforcement agencies in local and state jurisdictions can acquire vehicle‑disabling systems, pursuit bumpers, and drones to prevent or safely end high‑speed chases, potentially reducing crash injuries and fatalities.
States, localities, and tribal governments gain federal grant flexibility to fund technology‑based pursuit‑management tools, reducing the need to tap local budgets for expensive equipment.
Broader equipment authorization enables coordinated, multi‑jurisdictional responses and supports regional consortia to manage pursuits across boundaries, improving response capability.
Residents—especially in urban and tribal communities—face increased police surveillance risk because funding drones and remote systems can expand monitoring and data collection, raising privacy and civil‑liberties concerns.
Local and state governments will incur ongoing maintenance, training, and operational costs for high‑tech systems that may exceed initial grant funding, putting strain on municipal budgets.
Municipalities, law enforcement, and community members face risks of property damage, injury, escalation of incidents, and legal liability if vehicle‑disabling or bumper systems are misused or malfunction.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows DOJ community policing grants to be used to buy equipment and systems (e.g., vehicle-disabling systems, police bumper systems, drones) to prevent or de-escalate high-speed pursuits.
Official title: To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize law enforcement agencies to use COPS grants for equipment to assist in the prevention and de-escalation of high-speed vehicular pursuits.
Introduced April 9, 2026 by Laura Friedman · Last progress April 9, 2026
Adds a new authorized use to the Department of Justice's public safety and community policing grant program so grantees can buy equipment, technology, or support systems to prevent and de-escalate high-speed vehicle pursuits. Examples listed include vehicle-disabling systems, police bumper systems, and drones. The change simply expands what grant funds can be used for by states, local governments, Indian tribal governments, other public and private entities, and multi-jurisdictional consortia that receive the Attorney General's specified grants.