American Notes CALIFORNIA

Even by the laid-back standards of Southern California, it was a slow-motion arrest. Just outside Malibu last week, highway patrol officer Donna Urqidi noticed that a slow-moving 1978 Volkswagen was creating a traffic jam and ordered its driver to pull off the road. But as Urqidi left her car, the VW took off. With lights flashing and sirens screaming, Urqidi and two other patrol cars set off in less than hot pursuit of the escaping vehicle. And followed. And followed. And followed. Through the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties. For four hours and more than 150 miles, tag teams of highway patrol cars and a Los Angeles police helicopter tailed the VW, which never exceeded the 55-m.p.h. speed limit, until driver Brett Barish finally ran out of gas near San Diego.

Once they ran him down, police charged Barish, 29, with driving under the influence of alcohol, evading arrest, driving without a valid license and several other outstanding warrants. Throughout the marathon pursuit, police * never attempted to run him off the road. Explained a spokesman: "That only works in the movies."