Which statement best describes hot pursuit?

Which statement best describes hot pursuit?

• A. The pursuit must be immediate and continuous.
• B. It requires a warrant.
• C. It can only occur at night.
• D. It ends when the suspect enters a residence.

Answer: (A)

Hot pursuit is when officers are actively chasing a suspect and cannot wait to obtain a warrant because there is an immediate threat of escape or harm. The defining point is that the pursuit must be immediate and continuous—the chase cannot be interrupted without undermining the urgency that justifies bypassing normal procedures. Because of that urgency, a warrant is not required in hot pursuit. It isn’t limited to nighttime, and the pursuit does not automatically end when the suspect enters a residence; officers may continue the pursuit and make an arrest inside if necessary, depending on the jurisdiction. Therefore, the statement that best describes hot pursuit is that the pursuit must be immediate and continuous.

Hot pursuit is when officers are actively chasing a suspect and cannot wait to obtain a warrant because there is an immediate threat of escape or harm. The defining point is that the pursuit must be immediate and continuous—the chase cannot be interrupted without undermining the urgency that justifies bypassing normal procedures. Because of that urgency, a warrant is not required in hot pursuit. It isn’t limited to nighttime, and the pursuit does not automatically end when the suspect enters a residence; officers may continue the pursuit and make an arrest inside if necessary, depending on the jurisdiction. Therefore, the statement that best describes hot pursuit is that the pursuit must be immediate and continuous.