The pursuit by a government ship or aircraft of a foreign vessel from a coastal State's internal waters, territorial seas or contiguous zone on to the high seas, for the sole purpose of effecting its arrest for a violation of the laws and regulations of the coastal State. Pursuit must be commenced contemporaneously with the offence committed; it must be pressed with all possible dispatch (ie it must be 'hot') and it must be continuous although one pursuer may be relieved by another. The right of hot pursuit ceases when the pursued enters the territorial seas of its own or a third State.

Legal term means exigent circumstances. Limited exception that allows officers to enter a home without a search warrant if a felony has just occurred and the officer has chased a suspect to a private house. The officer can forcefully enter the house in order to prevent the suspect from escaping or hiding or destroying evidence.

This term defines a situation where a law enforcement officer may cross a jurisdictional boundary to arrest or search a fleeing suspect.

House Closing