The Getaway Car Loophole Is Closing in Las Vegas
Imagine watching a criminal speed away in a stolen car, knowing full well the police aren't even allowed to chase him.
That's been happening right here in Clark County. Thankfully, it's about to change. Sheriff Kevin McMahill just announced a big shift in Metro's vehicle pursuit policy.
Now officers can chase down drivers suspected of DUI, people caught in stolen vehicles, and folks wanted in serious, ongoing investigations.
For years, Metro often wouldn't pursue these drivers at all. Criminals knew it too. All they had to do was hit the gas and drive away clean.
The sheriff didn't mince words about why he made the change.
“If we just let them go constantly, they are going to continue to commit crime in our community,” he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
He's right. When there's no consequence for fleeing, more people will flee. That's not complicated. That's just human nature.
Now, I'll give credit where it's due.
Sheriff McMahill isn't being reckless about this. He's not telling officers to chase every car that doesn't pull over.
Supervisors will still weigh each situation, looking at the danger to the public, the weather, the roads, and whether newer tools like drones, helicopters, or the “Grappler” device can safely end a chase without a high-speed race through our neighborhoods.
He's also honest about the risks.
“It is a heavy burden if I am going to be very candid with you,” McMahill said.
He knows pursuits can go wrong. A national report found more than 3,300 people died in police pursuits across the country between 2017 and 2022.
Nevada has seen its own tragedies too. But here's the thing. Doing nothing has consequences as well.
This year, a fleeing driver near North Las Vegas hurt a woman badly. A man who stole a bus kept driving recklessly after police backed off and ended up killing a motorcyclist.
Letting criminals go isn't the safe choice. It just moves the danger somewhere else.
This is what real leadership on public safety looks like.
It's not “chase everyone no matter what.” It's not “chase no one no matter what” either. It's a balanced policy built on judgment, technology, and responsibility.
Metro's own numbers back this up. Out of 60 pursuits last year, 90 percent were for felony offenses. This isn't Metro going trigger-happy. It's Metro doing its job.
Compare that to my opponent in Assembly District 41, Vinny Spotleson.
He's a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a group that has openly called for defunding the police.
Think about that for a second.
While Sheriff McMahill is working to give officers the tools and authority to stop criminals from driving off into the night, groups tied to my opponent want to strip police departments of resources altogether.
You can't protect a community with fewer officers, less funding, and more restrictions on doing the job.
Nevada families deserve leaders who understand the difference between reckless policy and responsible policy.
Sheriff McMahill found that balance. I'll bring that same thinking to the Assembly.
Public safety isn't a talking point to me. It's a promise. And it starts with making sure the people who break our laws know they can't just drive away from the consequences.
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