Missouri No Chase Law
Agency discretion
Does Missouri have a no-chase law? No — Missouri has no statewide law restricting police pursuits. Each department sets its own chase policy.
What governs pursuits in Missouri
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 544.157 (policy-adoption requirement)
Missouri Revised Statutes § 544.157 requires any agency that chooses to conduct vehicular pursuits to adopt a policy meeting minimum structural standards (supervisory control, designation of primary pursuit vehicle/vehicle-count limits, interagency coordination procedures, and guidelines for when to initiate/terminate a pursuit) — it does not itself set statewide substantive limits on when a pursuit may start, so actual triggers vary by department. Separately, 2024's 'Valentine's Law' increased criminal penalties on fleeing drivers (up to Class A felony, 30 years, if a death results) but does not restrict officer pursuit authority.
Will police chase a motorcycle in Missouri?
No Missouri law creates a no-chase rule for motorcycles. Pursuit initiation/termination for a fleeing motorcyclist is governed by each agency's own § 544.157-compliant policy, balancing public-safety risk against the offense severity, not a statewide vehicle-type exemption.
No US state has a literal law forbidding officers from chasing motorcycles. What riders call a "no-chase law" is nearly always a department policy that tells officers to break off a pursuit when the danger to the public outweighs the arrest — and fleeing remains a crime in Missouri regardless. See the state-by-state motorcycle guide for how this works everywhere.
Sources
- revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=544.157
- news.mobar.org/police-pursuit-liability-in-missouri/
- kendallinjurylaw.com/2024/09/valentines-law-increased-penalties-for-fleeing-poli
Verified as of August 2026. Department policies can change without notice — check the agency's published policy for current break-off criteria.