Scott v. Harris

The Supreme Court case, Scott v. Harris, examines the constitutionality of a police officer's use of a "Precision Intervention Technique" to stop a fleeing driver. The officer, Deputy Scott, rammed the fleeing motorist's car, rendering him a quadriplegic. The Court ultimately decided that Scott's actions were reasonable under the Fourth Amendment because the driver posed a substantial and immediate threat to public safety by recklessly driving at high speeds. The Court rejected the argument that the police should have simply ceased the pursuit, emphasizing the need to protect innocent bystanders from the danger of a reckless fleeing motorist. Click HERE for case PDF.