New Jersey No Chase Law
Statewide conditions
Does New Jersey have a no-chase law? Partly — New Jersey sets statewide conditions on police pursuits, but it is not a blanket "no-chase" jurisdiction.
What governs pursuits in New Jersey
N.J. AG Law Enforcement Directive 2022-4 / Use of Force Policy Addendum B (Vehicular Pursuit Policy), not a legislative statute
New Jersey is unusual: pursuits statewide are governed not by a legislative statute but by a binding Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive (2022-4, Addendum B, effective 2021/2022, updated again 2025 within the broader Use of Force Policy) issued under the AG's statutory supervisory authority over all state, county, and municipal police (N.J. Criminal Justice Act). It requires an 'imminent threat' standard — pursuit only where the officer reasonably believes, based on conduct before the stop attempt, that the person is immediately likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if not apprehended — plus enumerated qualifying offenses (certain violent/weapons crimes, motor vehicle theft, bias intimidation, etc.), mandatory supervisor oversight, and twice-yearly training. Individual agencies may impose additional (more restrictive) rules, but cannot loosen the statewide floor.
Will police chase a motorcycle in New Jersey?
No New Jersey rule bans chasing motorcycles specifically. The statewide imminent-threat standard and offense list apply equally regardless of vehicle type; officers/supervisors may still decline or abort a pursuit of a motorcycle under general safety factors, but there is no dedicated motorcycle no-chase provision.
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 New Jersey regardless. See the state-by-state motorcycle guide for how this works everywhere.
Sources
- nj.gov/oag/dcj/agguide/directives/ag-Directive-2022-4_Directive-Updating-Statewi
- njcopsmagazine.com/nj-attorney-general-revises-vehicle-pursuit-policy/
- njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Use-of-Force-Policy-revised-9-17-25.pdf
Verified as of August 2026. Department policies can change without notice — check the agency's published policy for current break-off criteria.