Sheriff's Policy Manual PDF

SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL 7.10 STOPPING ON ROADWAYS: 7.10.1 Disabled BSO Vehicle: If a BSO vehicle becomes disabled with any part of it extending on the roadway, the employee will: A. Appropriately place warning flares and/or reflective traffic cones on the road....

SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL 7.10 STOPPING ON ROADWAYS: 7.10.1 Disabled BSO Vehicle: If a BSO vehicle becomes disabled with any part of it extending on the roadway, the employee will: A. Appropriately place warning flares and/or reflective traffic cones on the road. B. Use all operable visual warning devices on the vehicle. 7.10.2 Assisting Motorist: If employees stop their assigned vehicle to assist a disabled motorist, they will: A. Use all operable visual warning devices on the vehicle. B. Immediately notify Communications of the disabled vehicle’s description, location and other pertinent information. C. Park the BSO vehicle in the safest manner possible to enhance the safety at the scene. D. If needed, utilize issued traffic warning devices as appropriate on the roadway. E. Not use a BSO vehicle to jump start the private vehicle. 7.10.3 Disabled Vehicles Posing a Safety Hazard: If leaving the vehicle in the roadway poses a serious safety hazard, deputies/employees may: A. Physically push a vehicle to clear the roadway; B. Allow the motorist the opportunity to select a towing service or request a BSO- approved tow truck if the chosen service cannot respond in a timely fashion; C. Use a push bar/push bumper if their vehicle is specially equipped and meets the requirements below. 7.10.4 Use of Push Bars/Push Bumper: A. Policy: 7.10 Page 1 of 4 09/01/2015  SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL 1. Agency vehicles equipped with push bars/push bumpers may be utilized to push disabled vehicles to an immediate place of safety onto the shoulder or curb of the road, provided: a. The vehicle is disabled and creating an exigent safety hazard, b. It is in the best interest of public safety to push the vehicle rather than wait for a tow truck; and c. The disabled vehicle can be safely pushed a short distance without significant likelihood of damage to either the agency’s vehicle or the disabled vehicle. 2. Agency vehicles shall not be used to push disabled vehicles for any reason other than to eliminate or reduce an exigent public safety hazard created by the disabled vehicle. 3. Disabled vehicles will not be pushed if the sole purpose is to assist the motorist who is already safely off the roadway, or facilitate the disabled motorist’s situation. In these circumstances, the deputy/employee will refer the disabled motorist to a towing service. 4. Oversized vehicles, vehicles significantly larger than the agency’s vehicle, vehicles attached to trailers, or vehicles that have sustained significant damage and are unsafe to push shall not be pushed. B. Procedures to Push a Disabled Vehicle: 1. The deputy/employee will inspect the disabled vehicle and note any existing damage. 2. The deputy/employee will reasonably determine if the disabled vehicle may be safely pushed a short distance without significant likelihood of damage to either vehicle. 3. The deputy/employee shall instruct the disabled vehicle operator in the procedures to be followed prior to, during, and after the push. If the deputy/employee has any doubts as to whether the operator has the ability to understand the instructions or control the vehicle, the disabled vehicle shall not be pushed. 7.10 Page 2 of 4 09/01/2015  SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL 4. The disabled vehicle operator shall be instructed of the following: a. Place the vehicle in neutral. b. Do not apply the brakes while being pushed. c. The power steering and/or power brakes on the disabled vehicle may not be working properly. d. Raise their hand when ready to be pushed. 5. The deputy/employee will activate all emergency lighting equipment. 6. The disabled vehicle should be pushed from the rear. 7. The push bar/push bumper shall be brought to rest against the bumper of the disabled vehicle. 8. The deputy/employee will put their vehicle in the lowest gear possible and push the disabled vehicle at the minimum speed necessary to safely move the disabled vehicle. 9. After the push, the deputy/employee shall inspect the disabled vehicle and the agency vehicle, noting any new damage to either vehicle. 10. If damage occurred to either vehicle during the push, the deputy/employee shall immediately notify the shift supervisor. The deputy/employee shall complete an Incident/Damage Report (BSO RP#68) and take photographs of the damage. 7.10.5 Use of Vehicle as Traffic Control Device: BSO vehicles should be used as a traffic control device when appropriate to protect lives or preserve evidence. In such cases, employees will use all available visual warning devices. 7.10 Page 3 of 4 09/01/2015  SHERIFF’S POLICY MANUAL THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK 7.10 Page 4 of 4 09/01/2015