Can police actually commandeer a vehicle from a citizen for pursuit?
<p>One sees it in films and tv all the time...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Officer: <em>&quot;He's getting away! Sir, I'm commandeering this vehicle. Please get out!&quot;</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Is this <em>actually</em> feasible?</p>
<p>Is a private citizen <em>required</em> to relinquish their privately owned vehicle if a police officer requests it, merely so the officer can continue a pursuit?</p>
<p>US Law. Assuming the citizen is legally authorized to drive and the officer has no other official reason to stop the driver. And the citizen is doing <em>nothing</em> to otherwise impede any pursuit.</p>

<p>More generally, but subject to the specifics of state law, a person may be <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refusing_to_assist_a_police_officer#United_States" rel="nofollow noreferrer">required to assist a police officer</a>. For instance <a href="https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/2006/13297/13a-10-5.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">in Alabama</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>A person commits the crime of refusing to aid a peace officer if, upon
command by a peace officer identified to him as such, he fails or
refuses to aid such peace officer in:</p>
<p>(1) Effecting or securing a lawful arrest; or</p>
<p>(2) Preventing the commission by another person of any offense.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9A.76.030" rel="nofollow noreferrer">In Washington</a>, the obligations is much narrower:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A person is guilty of refusing to summon aid for a peace officer if,
upon request by a person he or she knows to be a peace officer, he or
she unreasonably refuses or fails to summon aid for such peace
officer.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Washington seems to be in the minority, compared to Alabama.</p>

united-states police private-property