It is absolutely irresponsible to have a policy to let all speeders run. That policy would be hopelessly abused and we'd all be much worse off since all criminals would have an easy escape route FOR ANYTHING.
Actually it is better to let speeders go. Cops have and will cause many deaths and injuries chasing speeders. Let the speeders run and get the 'copters on them. Atleast this how it works in North Texas.
A license plate number isn't some direct link to a person's life. There's plenty of stolen plates, vehicles, or just plain people intentionally not using accurate information out there. Plus tracking the person down later doesn't stop them from hurting someone in the midst of driving like a moron. You assume that they will immediately resume driving like normal out of the site of a patrol car.
The real question is, outside of rhetoric, how well does high speed pursuit really do as a deterrent to would be criminal?
And does that level of deterrence outweigh the risk that direct highspeed pursuits have on the safety of other motorists?
Again, I'm of the opinion that you can still enforce traffic laws without resorting to highspeed pursuits (traffic cameras, helicopter, etc) in all but the most exceptional circumstances (mass murderer tearing down a high way, or a guy with heavy armaments ready to cause carnage, or something to that affect), as the risk doesn't warrant the benefit.
There are other parts of the world which have taken the no high speed pursuit stance after looking into the matter... and guess what? People haven't gone crazy speeding.
Legal views aside, if I were the motorcycle guy in this case, and was sent to jail for manslaughter, I sure as hell wouldn't be deterred from crime. By the time I'd be released, I'd be a hardened criminal with contempt for the justice system.