YAKIMA, Wash. -- Stiffer penalties for car thieves and drivers who flee police are being credited for a noticeable decline in dangerous pursuits.

Figures compiled by the Yakima Herald-Republic show that Yakima police have engaged in just 12 pursuits so far this year. And if the trend holds, the year-end total will show a huge drop from a high of 45 chases in 2007. Other agencies reported similar numbers.

Police Chief Sam Granato said stiffer penalties enacted by the 2008 Legislature almost certainly has something to do with it.

Sponsored by Rep. Charles Ross, R-Naches, the new law tacks on prison time of one year and a day if drivers are convicted of endangering the lives of others while fleeing police. The legislation was named for teenagers Bobby Aguilar and Edgar Trevino-Mendoza, who were killed in a crash in October 2006 when a car thief fleeing Yakima police ran a red light and broadsided their car at Nob Hill Boulevard and 48th Avenue.

The law took effect June 12, 2008. The Legislature also stiffened penalties for car thieves in 2007.

Granato said his officers have noticed that suspects are bailing out of their cars faster and trying their luck of foot.

"It was a win-win before for them," he said. "If you got away, great. If you got caught, maybe you got a few months in jail. Now the law has some real teeth, and it's sinking in that you're going to prison if you're caught."

The Yakima County Sheriff's Office has also seen a decline in pursuits. Through the end of June, it reported 15 chases. There were 42 in 2008 and a high of 46 in 2007.

Sheriff's Lt. Max James said neither he nor his colleagues were aware of the reduction, but he hopes the downward trend continues.

"If it stays that way, that's a good thing," he said. "I will enjoy the lack of them. Those things are scary."

And they are still happening, though fortunately with less loss of life.

Earlier this month, Sunnyside police, sheriff's deputies and the Washington State Patrol got into a high-speed chase through the streets of Sunnyside. It began shortly after midnight on Aug. 5, when police officers saw a Lincoln Navigator speeding through a parking lot.

The chase went on for 40 minutes but was called off when someone called dispatchers to tell them there might be children in the SUV. The 23-year-old driver was arrested later that day.

The decline in the number of pursuits hasn't been quite so dramatic locally for the Washington State Patrol.

However, statewide the agency has seen a 21 percent drop since 2007, when they peaked at 415. Last year the total dipped to 374. Midway through this year it was down to 165.

Also down locally are prosecutions, which authorities attribute to fewer arrests resulting from fewer pursuits.

From a high of 145 eluding cases in 2007, prosecutions dipped to 103 in 2008. That's a 29 percent decline. The trend is holding so far this year.

To get the enhanced prison penalties, prosecutors must show that other citizens -- besides the suspect and police officers -- were endangered during a chase. Video cameras installed in patrol units make that job easier, especially when the video shows drivers running stop signs or jumping curbs.

Yakima County Prosecutor Jim Hagarty said that after getting some clarification about new evidentiary requirements, his staff has become more aggressive about seeking the enhanced penalties.

He said prosecutions could be down because his office is becoming more selective about the cases that are filed.

Still, he said he has no doubt that "people know" about the mandatory prison time, a far cry from the days when eluding was the lowest felony on the sentencing grid.

"It's hard to say exactly why," he said, "but nobody's complaining."

Chris Bristol can be reached at 577-7748 or at cbristol@yakimaherald.com.

Yakima County eluding prosecutions

2003 -- 90

2004 -- 101

2005 -- 129

2006 -- 140

2007 -- 145

2008 -- 103

2009 -- 65*

* as of Aug. 11

Vehicle chases and pursuits

Yakima Police Department

2007 -- 45

2008 -- 37

2009 -- 12*

* unofficial through mid August

Yakima Sheriff's Office

2003 -- 22

2004 -- 20

2005 -- 42

2006 -- 41

2007 -- 46

2008 -- 42

2009 -- 15*

* through June 30

Washington State Patrol (statewide)

2005 -- 35 (373)

2006 -- 42 (375)

2007 -- 41 (415)

2008 -- 40 (374)

2009 -- 17 (165)*

* through June 30