LAPD helicopter tracker with real-time operating costs

As someone who lives in central LA and has them circle my neighborhood frequently, actually shaking my house, I think this is awesome.

These needs should be filled by drones. Way less noisy, dangerous and expensive.

why LA is spending thousands/hour when drones exist is crazy.

You're talking about technology that's only become realistic in the last couple years. Even then, there's probably nothing off-the-shelf that would serve the current need.

LAPD has been patrolling with helicopters for decades. I have yet to see a drone follow a car in high speed pursuit down the 5 at 100+ MPH.

Why do we need to follow a car in a high speed pursuit and force it to go 100mph on uncontrolled streets is the better question

The person “forc[ing] it to go 100mph” is in the car being chased.

Chased by what? It isn't a lion they are running from. It is a police interceptor egging them on to go 100mph.

I think they’re overwhelmingly being chased by a police vehicle after a lawful request to pull over and stop.

The fleeing driver is choosing to turn that lawful stop into felony fleeing/eluding if they choose to attempt to flee at triple digits.