Lets say you're chasing a Semi?

Question

And it's pulling a tanker that could be filled with gasoline and the driver is wanted for murder and is not stopping. How do you bring this chase to a safe end?

Most modern Semi's have an auto inflation system so shooting out the tires may not be as effective on it as you think. As far as slow pursuits are concernced, keep in mind Semi's can go about 1000 miles before needing to refuel.

Answer 1

Pull right up to the cab and shoot out his air ride for the truck air pressure drops below 60 psi truck can't go. Breaks lock up.

Answer 2

First you are no cop right? Why are you chasing a known killer? Second any semi can be stoppe if you are a real good shot. The air pots on either side of the the rear (trailer) axle contains a bladder for air. If this is punctured it will lock the brakes up. Second the 2 curly lines that hook up between the cab and trailer serve that same purpose. On most semi's I know of they are any other color but Black. Black is normally reserved for the electrical system to operate the lights and such. However, if the tanker is full you are going to create a multi-million dollar mess. NEVER, i mean NEVER, attempt anything this stupid. Onse the brakes lock-up there is still 120-200 bbls. of fluid in motion. There is no way to control the wreckage. Spike strips would most likely have the same effect depending on the determination of the driver. Road bocks would probably injure any smaller vehicle drivers. The safest way to stop this pursuit would be the radio and patience. I worked at a truck stop for 2 years and have seen some erratic behavior from some of these nuts. I've witnessed 1 who was throwing things out his window to try and evade the "Meth Monsters" who were chasing him! There was noone even near him that I saw.

Answer 3

these answers are close to right but the ideal way to stop the truck would be like something that you would see in a movie , you should land a SWAT member from a helicopter onto the tanker (most have a catwalk on top with ladders at either end ) he would procede to the cab end of the trailer and pull off the red glad hand that couples the truck and tractor this is the air supply for the trailer and once dissconected the brakes on the trailer will lock bringing the truck to a slow stop . Also if the officer knows trucks he could cut the tractor brake supply line from this same area insuring a safe stop .

Answer 4

Well, I have a 2006 which I would say to be pretty "modern" and if a bullet is shot into my tire, it's done for..... but... having 3 more on each side (weather it be drives or trailer) it wouldn't hurt a bit.

Still, the whole shooting at a tank of gasoline thing could be bad...

We know you can't be sure of what he is hauling based on the placards or lack of... If he is a murderer then what difference is a placard or 4?....

Getting truckers on the CB wouldn't make sense since because most likely the tanker driver also has a CB and I sure wouldn't want to get tangled up with a tanker hauling Haz-Mat.

I say contact the company and hope that they don't know he's a murderer and aren't helping him. Have them call him on his phone or Qualcomm and make up a reason he needs to stop. (load was cancelled, need to fax copy of medical card per audit asap, whatever) Once he stops, wait for him to get away from his truck and cuff him and stuff him.... Or however that goes...

That's just my idea.

Answer 5

considering a tractor trailer isnt very manuverable. If authorized, an officer could shoot out the tires. As the first answerer said, the brakes would lock up when the pressure drops below a certain level, that is a safety feature. However, considering there are so many tires on a trailer, that may be difficult.
A better option would be to initiate a slow-speed pursuit. Dont crowd the driver, otherwise s/he will increase his/her speed. Let the truck run until it can't run anymore (this may be a long time considering they have about a 100 gallon tank. It is the safest option in apprehending the driver safely.

Answer 6

Yeah, right. Firing a pistol at a gasoline tanker isn't a very smart idea, I don't care how good a marksman the cop may be on the shooting range. It's hard to control a gun and your cruiser at the same time while some crazy trucker is trying to run you off the road (or even when he isn't). Besides, if a driver hears you shooting at him he's liable to get even more desperate and reckless. I would rather keep back and radio ahead on the C.B. to try to get a few tractor-trailer drivers to occupy all the lanes and box him in. Those guys are usually bored as hell and are more than happy to throw their weight around if you ask them ;-)

Answer 7

At sometime the driver is going to have to stop for whatever reason. If it's a country road, give yourself room and space, light up the country side. You have to spend the money one way or another, the cost of the load and damages or send him off to prison to pay to keep him for the rest of his life.

Answer 8

RPG !!!