NYPD officers will no longer be allowed to chase after vehicles fleeing car stops under a new department-wide policy that only allows pursuits when a felony crime or a violent misdemeanor is committed,

The NYPD clarified its policy in 2023 after car chases increased. John Chell — who was previously the chief of patrol but is currently the chief of department — championed the old policy at the time, saying that officers were good at vehicle pursuits. "People thinking they can take off on us, those days are over,” he said at the time.

NYPD cops won’t chase drivers who speed away into traffic unless they’re wanted for the most serious and violent crimes — under a new policy announced Wednesday. The revamped policy, which takes effect Feb.