Law Enforcement Vehicle Inspection

Law Enforcement Vehicle Operations

• Exterior vehicle inspection should look for scratched paint, dents, and missing or broken light covers
• Damaged or malfunctioning emergency equipment, broken or cracked glass and mirrors, and a dirty windshield must be noted during inspection
• Check for foreign objects or debris under the vehicle, including potential explosives, and any fluid leaks
• Tires should be inspected for uneven wear, which can indicate improper balance, alignment, or over/under inflation
• Recommended PSI (pounds per square inch) is usually found on the doorjamb
• If tire bars are even with the tread surface, the tires will not dissipate fluids effectively
• Objects caught in tires can cause blowouts
• Cuts or bulges on sidewalls are signs of damage
• Rims should be checked for dents, cracks, or bead damage

Under the Hood Inspection

• All fluids should be at the manufacturer's recommended levels
• Check levels of engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and power steering fluid
• Inspect the coolant reservoir, but only when the engine is cool, and windshield washer fluid
• Belts must be inspected for fraying, cuts, cracks, and gouges & Hoses should be scrutinized for dry rot, cracks, holes, bulges, and leaks
• Check wires for fraying, corrosion, cracked or missing insulation, and exposure
• Battery inspection requires checking terminal connections, water level, and signs of exterior damage

Interior Vehicle Inspection

• All equipment must be stowed and properly secured
• Seats should be checked for tears or damage
• Check under the back seat for weapons or contraband before and after every shift and transport
• Seatbelts must be inspected for fraying or binding, and clasps should lock properly
• All lights need to be tested, including headlights, turn signals, hazard flashers, and interior lights
• Rearview mirror should be securely attached and not cracked or broken
• Communications equipment and emergency equipment-horn, siren, light bar - must be tested
• Check that doors and windows function correctly & gauges should be observed for any visible damage
• Be aware of any unusual sounds or smells
• While the vehicle is running, check for leaks by looking under the car from the side, not the front or back
• In the rear cargo/trunk, ensure spare tires, jacks, and tire tools are properly restrained
• Long or protruding equipment should be stored horizontally across the width of the rear cargo area to prevent it from protruding into the passenger/gas tank in a rear-end collision

Hazard Detection and Observation Skills

• "Countermeasures That Work," from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tips to prevent accidents, suggests assuming other drivers will make errors
• Scan frequently to the side and rear for passing or approaching vehicles, and thoroughly before changing speed or direction
• Learn to recognize potentially hazardous situations and adjust speed, position, direction, and attention to maneuver safely
• Drivers should scan far enough ahead to react effectively to situations
• Vision accounts for 90-95% of incoming driving data.
• Acuity is the sharpness of vision
• Depth perception is needed to judge distance and perceive space
• Peripheral vision allows sight above, below, and to the sides, with a good range being 180°
• Color vision enables distinguishing colors & night vision allows to see clearly in darkness
• Vision is affected by environment, physical condition, alertness, aging, speed, glare, and window tinting
• Be aware of road hazards such as pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, skateboarders, animals, improperly parked vehicles, roadway obstructions, surface flaws, debris, and fluids
• Hearing helps locate the source of sounds for vehicle issues, suspicious incidents, and crime
• Hearing is affected when windows are closed or by surrounding buildings
• Driving with the driver's side window down helps detect hazards, and alerts other emergency vehicles and LEOs
• If an unusual odor is detected, confirm whether it's coming from inside or outside
• Look for smoke or indicators of the source, and if the source cannot be identified, call for additional resources
• Unusual odors may indicate unusual hazards
• A fire starts if a car is left running over grassy area, due to extreme heat from the catalytic converter
• Steering wheel vibration indicates a steering or tire issue, while pulling indicates an alignment issue
• Apply brakes to determine functionality, check steering, and look for smoke or signs of engine fire
• Driving at or below the posted speed limit helps responsiveness
• Eating more frequently in smaller meals and rest/sleep before shifts improves alertness
• Temporary factors affecting observation skills include stress, emotions, fatigue, frequent shift changes, prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and poor driving habits
• Medical conditions that can affect alertness include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions, and epilepsy

Road and Weather Conditions

• If collision is unavoidable, strike at a slight angle with free-rolling tires to minimize loss of rolling friction
• If two or more wheels roll from pavement to unpaved surface, decelerate, steer straight, reduce speed, grip the wheel, and steer smoothly onto the roadway
• Anticipate the traction of tires on variable surfaces like concrete, asphalt, clay, dirt, gravel, sand, and brick
• Rain and wind most likely affect vehicle's performance & a small amount hydroplanes vehicles

Proactive Driving Measures

• Intersections pose the greatest threat to safe vehicle operation
• Sideswipes, right-angle collisions, collisions with fixed objects, improper backing, and head-on collisions occur frequently
• When collision is unavoidable, check for obstacles, reduce speed, drive to the right, drive off the road, and select what to hit - bushes, small trees, fences, other cars, or fixed objects
• Hit the obstacle with the side of the vehicle at a glancing angle
• Taking foot off the accelerator, evasive maneuvers, applying brakes, and steering to a safe location can prevent crashes
• Florida Statute 316.614 requires the driver and front seat passengers 18+ to be restrained by seat belt
• Those under 18 years of age must be restrained anywhere in the vehicle
• The three-second rule establishes safe following distance and provides reaction time at posted speed limit

Six-Second Rule

• Use under poor road conditions or bad weather (fog/smoke)
• Use when traveling at higher than normal rates of speed, in emergency responses, with other responding units, oncoming headlights, streetlights, hazards/debris, construction areas

Principles of Driving

• The tire contact patch, four 6-inch squares upon which tires rest, is affected by driver input, road conditions, and natural forces
• During acceleration or braking, pitch causes weight transfer from front to rear; roll during turning transfers weight from side to side
• Yaw transfers weight causing an end-for-end motion turning 180° horizontally
• Stability affects the degree of pitch, roll, and yaw
• A low and centered center of gravity results in higher stability, and a wider tracking width results in more stability
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) helps maintain control during extreme steering
• The Traction Control System (TCS) is designed to prevent loss of traction
• Equipment and passenger loads affect weight transfer and change stability
• Distribute weight so tires contact the surface evenly & the more brakes/accelerator is applied, the more dramatic the weight transfer
• Accelerating shifts weight to rear tires while vans, trucks, and SUVs are more noticeable
• When turning, weight shifts to turning outside tires & the turning front wheel carries more weight
• Radius: distance from circle center to the outside
• Increasing radius is a turn that gets wider & decreasing radius is a turn that gets tighter
• A constant radius turn remains uniform throughout the intersection
• Apexing technique: it means how a vehicle is steered related to a curve's apex

Corner Negotiating Techniques

• Maintain appropriate lane
• Apex is the center point of any curve
• Early: vehicle is steered close to inside curve before apexing
• Center: vehicle is steered to the middle of the curve when apexing
• Late: vehicle is steered so it passes closest to inside of curve after apexing
• Reduced potential for loss of control by best cornering, vehicle force is decreased

Steering and Vehicle Control

• Steering has a direct relationship with vehicle dynamics, handling, and traction control
• Steering is affected by speed & turning force
• Weight transfer is greatly affected by steering

Understeer

• The vehicle does not turn sharply enough
• Excessive speed, lack of traction on tires, and improper braking are causes
• Correction is to maintain safe place and remove foot from gas

Oversteer

• Vehicle steers more sharply than intended which loses rear/outside traction or has high speed
• Correction is to safely steer, remove foot from brake or gas

Wheel-Tracking

• Rear wheels follow a tighter path than the front wheels; steer wide off object
• Steering wheel grip should be firm and relaxed with thumbs on rim
• Hand position – 4 o'clock & 8 o'clock positions to ensures quicker response, reduce fatigue/injury
• Helps maintain control by steering with caster with shuffle steering
• Caster effect occurs driving forward in a vehicle straightening as a result of a turn when steering wheel releases
• Optical driving/eye targeting means to look towards intended direction of traveling to avoid obstacles & steering towards it

Braking Techniques

• Proper technique means heel on floor when rotating right foot from gas to brake
• Place ball of right foot at center of brake pedal to ensures shortest possible stop by gradually increasing application on brake pedal
• Enhancement to braking with Anti-lock braking system (ABS) which prevents wheel locking & maintains driver control for sudden stops via electrons rapidly applying & releasing brakes
• Accelerate by resting right heel at accelerator base & the right feet ball squarely on pedal
• Ensures smooth motion with steady pressure to avoid loss of traction
• Optimal with straight and smooth pressure

Vehicle Slide Control

• Control depends on traction, which tire friction
• Consistently rotating tires ensure rolling friction
• Loss of traction increases vehicle and tires skid/slide causing loss of rolling friction
• Skid occurs when lost rolling frictions locks wheel that DO NOT TURN while the vehicle is moving via slamming on breaks
• Weigh transfer, centrifugal force, quick turns & improper braking are causes influenced
• Tar and rainstorm also lead to decreased fractions
• Wheels that rotate when sliding & losing friction but are uncontrollable indicate movement
• The over acceleration tire spin cause loss of friction and vehicle power sliding
• Sliding vehicle recovery means turning a wheel that does not break & retain traction & steering direction

Cornering

• This requires a 90° turn entering an intersection properly and safely while driving at a normal rate
• Steering straight forward at 35mph ensure proper technique with the use of turn signals
• Breaking entering before turns ensures safety
• Proper technique means constant motion while aligning travel paths & shuffle steering & accelerate exiting curve
• Accidents more from backing in things then being fixed

Backing Safely

• Driving at low speed & compensating to increase weight transfer and decrease field vision
• Back the vehicle via shifting into reverse, using mirrors & slowly accelerating ensuring smooth hand motion
• Steering with both hands
• More then 50% of fatal accidents are at night

Dark & Low Light Driving

• Dim lights, lower vision & high speeds increase reaction distance
• Reduce speed without looking directly at headlights
• Reduce glare using guidance cues by the lower beam, fog/smoke, interior light, edge line and shoulder to see

Emergency Lights Driving

• Emergency is dangerous situation because LEO psychological/ physiological experiences
• Ensure follow FLORIDA laws by lowering body functions like tunnel & selective vision & increasing heart rate, time distortion & loss of awareness to preform fine mortor skill
• Approaching an emergency via intersections with proper scanning & following other drivers via road offsets and dispatches by proper application

Pursuits Safety Precussions

• An emergency vehicle to stops and apprehended a moving vehicle for evading
• Officer determination & police statues are depended to ensue
• Law allows for the use of a authorized vehicle for emergencies (with emergency equipment use) including all traffic vehicles
• Officer must maintain communication to dispatch/traffic stops.

Possible Pursuit Conclusions

• An apprehended criminal
• A crash ending in LEO ending patrol
• Officer requires the practice a safe driving with Six seconds to protect the public
• High force & chases require report

The Court and Pursuits

• DeShaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services*, 489 U.S. 189 (1989)- LEO legally has a duty to legally guarantee persons in custody
• City of Pinellas Park v. Brown*, 604 So.2d 1222 (Fla. 1992)- Review pursue legality by modern doctrine neglect & standard police lights, vehicles never run without a chase
• Brower v. County of Inyo*, 489 U.S. 593 (1989)-Certain action must warrant deadly force
• Tennessee v. Garner*, 471 U.S to stop not dangers crime to draw pursue or seize
• County of Sacramento v. Lewis*, 523 U.S to shocking the courts conscience & be ready use high force with damage within range on balancing test
• Scott v. Harris*, 550 U.S, to legally deadly cover forces

Pursuit Termination Techniques

• Roadblock & other tools to block the force
• Overpower potential arrest when officer orders suspect for their safety with a full line of sight with the proper space.
• Proper tools allow Hollow spikes in the form as pursuit of immobilization technique. Never leave seats or let a driver do the PIT move.