On October 13, a police crew, while monitoring traffic, noticed a “BMW” car, the driver of which was apparently not wearing a seatbelt, on Satekles Street in Riga. To make sure of this fact, the law enforcement officers, turning on the special sound and light signals, gave an order to stop the vehicle, but the driver of the “BMW” began to increase speed rapidly and began to flee along Lāčplēša Street in the direction of the Sala Bridge.
During the escape, the driver exceeded the permitted driving speed several times – instead of the permitted speed of 70 km/h, the driver of the “BMW” drove at 164 km/h. Also, the driver did not observe the prohibitory signal of the traffic light several times.
During the chase, the driver of the “BMW” vehicle was repeatedly asked to stop the vehicle, but the driver was very reckless and continued to rudely ignore the request of the policemen to stop the vehicle, and continued moving, therefore additional forces of the State Police were called in.
Continuing the movement along Zolitudes Street, the law enforcement officers stopped the fleeing driver. After stopping the vehicle, the police found that it was being driven by a 16-year-old youth who does not have a driving license.
The young man explained that he had taken the car from his parents while they were sleeping to take an acquaintance home.
The State Police has initiated a total of 11 administrative violation proceedings for the young man’s reckless behavior – one for driving without a driving license, one for disobeying the legal demands of the police to stop the vehicle, two for aggressive driving, three for exceeding the speed limit and four for disobeying the prohibitory signal of a traffic light.