Pitting
The PIT begins when the pursuing vehicle pulls alongside the fleeing vehicle so that the portion of the pursuer's vehicle forward of the front wheels is aligned with the portion of the target vehicle behind the back wheels. The pursuer gently makes contact with the target's side, then steers sharply into the target. The pursuer must also accelerate or its bumper will slide off of the target vehicle. As soon as the fleeing vehicle's rear tires lose traction and start to skid, the pursuer continues to turn in the same direction until clear of the target. This is more of a committed lane change than an actual turn. The target will turn in the opposite direction, in front of the pursuer, and will spin out.
The PIT may be done from either side, but consideration must be given to where both cars will end up. Typically, another police car will tail the PIT unit to proceed with the arrest, while the PIT unit recovers its control and completely stops the car. The PIT does not immobilize the suspect vehicle and to prevent further flight, two police cars need to pin the suspect between them, front and rear. Only PIT vehicles when it is safe from other vehicles and civilians.
**NOTE**
As law enforcement, you are allowed to pit a vehicle – though you are not to do so carelessly in a way that endangers civilian life, an example is pitting a car at high rates of speed in a busy city thoroughfare.
You are encouraged to pit vehicles outside of city limits and to do so effectively/tactically. Continuously striking a vehicle, bumping, ramming, and grinding cars is not pitting a vehicle and is highly discouraged.