How can an officer determine if they are in a pursuit situation?

In assessing whether an officer is in a pursuit situation, the key element to consider is the behavior of the suspect. When the driver is actively resisting arrest, it indicates an unwillingness to comply with law enforcement, which typically results in a high-speed chase or evasive maneuvers to escape capture. This resistance is a direct signal that the situation has escalated to a pursuit scenario, necessitating a response from the officer that may involve the activation of lights and sirens, as well as the pursuit of the errant vehicle.

Other scenarios presented do not inherently indicate a pursuit situation. For instance, being in a non-marked vehicle does not automatically mean a pursuit is occurring, as the officer may simply be conducting routine patrol. If the suspect is unaware of the officer's presence, that indicates the individual has not yet taken evasive action, which does not constitute a pursuit. Being on vacation is irrelevant to pursuit scenarios, as it indicates a lack of engagement in law enforcement duties entirely. Therefore, the most clear and definitive indicator of a pursuit situation arises when the driver is actively resisting arrest.