The Oct. 31 editorial, “Let police chase carjackers,” argued that police must allow vehicle pursuits again to combat the rising frequency of carjacking incidents. However, the issue isn’t so simple, as there is a reason that police pursuits have been increasingly limited over the past decade.

Police vehicle pursuits are dangerous and can harm officers and bystanders. These chases can result in unintentional deaths and cost police departments a lot of money through lawsuits. Last year, the city of Portsmouth, Va., settled a lawsuit for $11 million for the death of a father of three, and for the life-threatening injuries suffered by the mother, during a police chase. Police were pursuing a car that ran a red light when the suspect’s vehicle crashed into the bystanders’ car.