Topic: Is it just me or does it seem that all car chases take place in California?

[SSCF-LeRoy]

It seems like cable news only covers car chases that occur in California. What makes California car chases so special?

[E_Look]

How do you do a car chase in Midtown Manhattan?...

... or any other place within twenty miles of New York?  You'd sooner run into a cop car than escape the one behind you.

Or, if you're a perp driver in Boston, the law abiding drivers might accidentally kill you just by their driving normally!

[Death_Merchant]

It seems like cable news only covers car chases that occur in California. What makes California car chases so special?

Not sure. But as a S. Cal resident, I could offer a few possibilities:

• Huge number of news choppers makes for bitch'en coverage
• Extensive freeway system makes for long chases
• Must justify huge "car chase coverage" infrastructure built up after the OJ thing
• Good chance a CA driver is a packin' heat. Nice dramatic touch!
• Tractor and "old-beatup-pickup" chases in the rest of the country not nearly as exciting

I ked! I Ked! I'm a kidder!

[Capt. Mike]

They've been covered here in Omaha...but after 10 miles in any direction, and you're dealing with the county dudes, who very little patience.

Mike

[Just plain old Punisher]

Because the we have to have a reason to have these stupid news choppers. I mean the traffic is pretty much all they do, that and car chases. Since traffic is boring, and you really don't need a chopper for that, there has to be some excitement.

I personally think the news creates the car chases just so they can cover them.

[Mentat Jon]

simple, Cali has lots a large multi lane highways,and a built in criminal population, and more streaming up from mexico everyday!

Cali is pre built for car chases

[NJAntman]

Here in the Garden State the tolls would break even a bank robber.

But most likely the eratic driving would touch off a wave of retalitory road rage that would just consume and overshadow the original chase.

[Capt. Mike]

Here in the Garden State the tolls would break even a bank robber.

But most likely the eratic driving would touch off a wave of retalitory road rage that would just consume and overshadow the original chase.

I hear ya man...when I left Ft. Monmouth in Dec '74..I bought a roll of quarters, dimes and nickles...and that was just to get to PA...what a racket...aren't the tolls supposed to go away once the road is paid for????


 

[Age]

They just like showing it on the news more.We have car chases up here considering we are California Canada that is the province of BC I am referring to.The LA/OC basin has more cars per captita than any other city in the Western World.I believe the old name can't spell new Peking and Hong Kong and possibly Tokyo are bigger.I believe they just as much.

[Mazeppa]

Two things, from my Oklahoma perspective:

I cannot imagine Tulsa or Oklahoma City police being as patient as the L.A. police are.  Soembody would shoot out a tire with a shotgun pretty quick.


And, our freeways are miniscule compared to L.A. 

[Sethan]

It seems like cable news only covers car chases that occur in California. What makes California car chases so special?

California car chases last longer than they do in other places, allowing the News to get involved.  Police in other places have guns, and use them.  That tends to put a finite limit on how long car chases last outside Ca.

[Commander Maxillius]

car chases in Michigan end up on dirt roads fairly quickly, so they usually end up in either tires getting shot out (to prevent the chase from going on dirt) or in magled metal with the perp inside (after they lose control of the car doing 70-80 on dirt).

Helpful hint: keep your Chevy Malibu under 60 on dirt since the rear end is heavy enough to simulate rear drive.