Traffic Stop Procedures and Risk Assessment

• The goal of this unit is to develop the ability to perform safe, effective vehicle stops and control/arrest vehicle occupants.

Priorities

• The first priority when attempting to stop a traffic violator is the safety of the officer and the general public.
• A key consideration when preparing to make a vehicle pullover is the amount of risk perceived by the patrol officer.

Unknown-Risk Vehicle Stops

• Any vehicle stop where the risks are not known.
• Generally made when an officer has reason to believe:
• The driver committed a traffic violation
• The vehicle's occupants represent an unknown risk and have violated a law
• The traffic stop may result in a citation
• One or more occupants engaged in criminal activity
• The vehicle stop could involve an investigation leading to a custodial arrest

High-Risk Vehicle Stops

• Any stop posing a significant risk to the officer when dealing with vehicle occupants.
• Situations may involve known or suspected felons, armed individuals, or dangerous persons.
• Requires tactics substantially different from low-risk stops.
• An officer’s reasonable belief can be based on observations, official communications, and reliable information.

Officer Safety Risks

• Traffic stops are routine but can place officers at risk of injury or death.
• Violent acts and traffic crashes during vehicle stops are leading causes of officer injuries and death.

Officer Actions for Safety

• Safety risk assessment refers to the level of anticipated risk involved with any vehicle stop.
• The officer is responsible for his safety, the safety of the violator’s vehicle, and the safety of passing motorists and pedestrians.
• A traffic stop should be preplanned, but circumstances can alter plans.
• The safety of all those involved directly or indirectly is the officer’s responsibility.

Before the Traffic Stop

• Observe the violation
• Respond to a call involving criminal activity and find the suspect vehicle
• Have a reasonable suspicion
• Pick a safe spot to initiate a traffic stop
• Turn on the light bar

Broadcasting Information

• Location
• License Plate
• Anything else dispatch may need to know
• Number of occupants
• Color and type of car
• Unusual and/or suspicious activity

Positioning the Vehicle

• To the left of the violator
• Turned towards the left
• Observe occupants, looking for unusual movement
• Shine a spotlight into the center of the vehicle or the driver’s side mirror at night
• Remember the importance of keeping the element of surprise
• Use various approaches when necessary

During the Traffic Stop

• Approach the driver/violator
• Confirm possession of essential equipment (flashlight, notepad, pen, etc.)
• Look for oncoming traffic before exiting the vehicle
• Move towards violator quickly
• Check the trunk
• Stand at an advantageous position (behind or in front)
• Contact the violator/driver
• Greet and identify self and department/organization
• State the violation committed
• Maintain sight of violator’s hands
• Look for weapons or contraband in plain view

Obtaining Information

• Driver’s license or identification card
• Correct information, avoiding the name game
• Proof of registration and insurance
• Advise of enforcement action
• Explain what the violator must do

Further Actions

• Return to patrol vehicle
• Run information
• Write ticket, confirm warrant, etc.
• Re-contact driver remembering steps from A
• Give a verbal warning or ticket
• Thank the violator for exhibiting courtesy and cooperation

Discovering a Warrant

• Has dispatch confirm warrant
• Request back up
• Keep visual on all the occupants
• Follow the steps of warrant arrest (department policy)
• Approach the driver, have him/her step out of vehicle when back up arrives
• Make arrest
• Release the vehicle to a third party, leave it parked in a secure location, or impound it if it is a hazard or on private property
• Perform inventory
• Take violator to jail

Passengers

• May give information if asked
• Can refuse to give information, but must give name if reasonable suspicion of a crime (Hibel v. Sixth Judicial District Court of Nevada)
• Can exit the vehicle and leave because the driver is the only one detained

Checking Driver's License

• Confirm that the driver is authorized to operate a specific type of motor vehicle
• Enforce the provisions of the Vehicle Code which require possession of a valid driver license
• Verify that the driver is complying with any restriction on the driver license
• Confirm the driver’s identity so that the driver can be cited and released
• Verify that the address is correct

Understanding High-Risk Stops

• High-Risk Stop Tactics are not to be taken lightly

Objective

• Maximize officer safety
• Maximize suspect safety
• Reduce suspect escape routes
• Tactical advantage for officers
• Reduce risk to the public

Pre-Stop Period

• Being thoroughly familiar with the tactics listed in this text
• Radio your location, suspect vehicle license number, vehicle description, number of occupants, and your direction of travel
• Advise your dispatch that you have a high-risk vehicle stop situation
• Request cover units
• Obtain an ETA of your cover units and coordinate with them
• Pre-determine when you are going to unlock your shotgun/tactical weapon either for yourself or cover units
• Release your seatbelt prior to the stop
• The primary unit is the command unit

Surveillance

• Maintain a safe surveillance distance.
• Watch for furtive movements. Look for closed windows or sunroofs being opened, passengers staring at your police vehicle, items being tossed from the vehicle, the vehicle slowing down with doors being opened for possible “bailout” situation, or any other unusual activities on the part of the driver or any passenger.

Pre-Plan Stop Location

• Where there is reduced pedestrian and vehicle traffic
• Where visibility is in your favor and there is reduced cover/concealment for the suspects
• Be coconscious of the back drop should for a shooting if necessary
• Try to choose a less populated area to perform the stop to avoid any danger to innocent bystanders
• Advise the cover officer(s) of the location where you plan to stop the vehicle and where you want them to deploy

Siren

• Utilized in high-risk traffic stops
• Alerts the suspect, the other officers, and the public that a traffic stop is going to be made
• Authenticates the traffic stop

Maintaining Appropriate Distance

• Maintain a safe distance between your police vehicle and the suspect’s vehicle while moving to protect your reaction gap.
• The best position allows the officer with an ideal reaction gap, a position of advantage, and an ability to scan the surroundings.

Safely Exiting Patrol Unit

• Patrol officers should exit their patrol units as safely and quickly as possible
• Check approaching traffic and open the door only if the path is clear
• Consider lowering the driver and passenger front door windows and unlocking the doors
• Use your vehicle as cover and concealment
• Agencies may encourage officers to turn the patrol vehicle front wheels out toward the roadway

First Cover Unit

• Positions the vehicle approximately 6’ – 8’ to the left of the primary unit at a slight inward angle.
• The first cover unit officer takes a guarded position behind his driver’s side door
• Once the second cover officer is in place, the first cover unit officer moves around the back of his vehicle and takes up a position behind his passenger side door with his firearm.

Second Cover Unit

• Is the third officer to arrive on the scene
• Deployed either to the right side or the rear of the primary unit
• If the stop is occurring at night, be cautious not to backlight the other officers with your headlights
• The diver will take cover behind the driver’s door of their vehicle otherwise they will move to the passenger side door of the Primary Unit

Third Cover Unit

• If you have a fourth officer present, have that officer approach and take cover behind the passenger door of the Primary Unit

Approaching a Target Vehicle on Foot

• Check to the rear of your patrol unit prior to exiting
• After exiting, pause behind your door momentarily to assess the situation and be aware of the threat zones
• Keep your eyes on the occupants
• Watch for movement to conceal items or retrieve weapons
• Always keep you gun hand free
• At night, use your flashlight strategically on approaches

Trunk Check

• Run your hand along the seam of the truck/pick up bed area
• Look for additional occupants and contraband
• Expect to see something and expect in reacting to a threat
• Watch their hands
• Each time you return to your patrol unit, then re-contact the violator, treat each approach as if it were the first

Primary Officer Positions During Contact

• There are two typical approach styles: the left side or driver’s side approach and the right side or passenger side approach

Left Side approach, behind the driver’s door (B Post)

• Forces the driver to reach back to you
• Places driver in a position of disadvantage
• Places the officer in a position of advantage reducing the threat risk
• Officer maybe sharing the same lane as passing traffic
• Violator may expect you to make contact on this side

Right Side approach, behind the passenger’s door (B Post)

• After exiting your vehicle, move around your trunk to the right side. Be cautious of traffic and be observant of the target vehicle and driver while moving around patrol unit.
• Forces the driver to reach back to you
• Places driver in a position of disadvantage
• Places the officer in a position of advantage reducing the threat risk
• At night, you have the advantage of surprise
• Do not walk in the gap between the patrol unit and violators vehicle

Officer Safety Considerations When Searching the Target Vehicle

• Use of available cover
• Types of objects sought and probable locations
• Potential hazards to officers during vehicle search
• Using a systematic and thorough search
• Interior and exterior

Understand the priorities and procedures involved in traffic stops, including risk assessment. Learn about unknown-risk and high-risk stops. The process of modifying procedure during vehicle stops will also be covered.