SOP 229 - Vehicle Stops.pdf

SOP HOLLYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT...

SOP HOLLYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT #229 VEHICLE STOPS ORIGINATION DATE: 11/01/2001 REVISED DATE: 02/06/2024 APPROVED: CHIEF OF POLICE, JEFF DEVLIN PURPOSE: To establish procedures and guidelines for stopping and approaching Motorists in a manner that promotes safety for both the Officer and Motorist. SCOPE: This SOP applies to all Members of the Department. POLICY: It is the policy of the Department to conduct motor vehicle stops in a safe, professional, and courteous manner. Members will strive to enforce traffic laws while educating the public about proper driving procedures. Members must be cognizant of the inherent dangers involved in this activity and take the necessary safety precautions to minimize the risk for all involved. INDEX: PROCEDURE:.............................................................................................................................................. 2 I. VEHICLE STOPS................................................................................................................................... 2 II. OFFICER’S APPROACH & CONTACT DURING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.......................................... 3 A. APPROACH:.......................................................................................................................................... 3 B. DRIVER/PASSENGER CONTACT:............................................................................................................ 3 III. VEHICLE STOPS USING UNMARKED POLICE VEHICLES............................................................... 4 A. TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS:........................................................................................................................... 4 B. EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES:................................................................................................................... 4 IV. STOPPING VEHICLES IN APPROACHING TRAFFIC......................................................................... 4 A. POLICE VEHICLE OPERATION:............................................................................................................... 4 B. OFFICER ACTION:................................................................................................................................. 4 V. STOPPING OVERSIZED & OVERWEIGHT VEHICLES....................................................................... 4 A. SITE SELECTION:.................................................................................................................................. 4 B. STOPPING DISTANCE:........................................................................................................................... 4 C. APPROACH:.......................................................................................................................................... 4 D. CONTACT:............................................................................................................................................ 5 VI. HIGH-RISK VEHICLE STOPS (HRVS).................................................................................................. 5 A. SITE SELECTION:.................................................................................................................................. 5 SOP 229 Vehicle Stops Page 1 of 6  B. BACK-UP UNITS:................................................................................................................................... 5 C. RADIO PROCEDURE:............................................................................................................................. 5 D. OFFICER POSITIONING:......................................................................................................................... 5 E. IDENTIFICATION AND INTENT:................................................................................................................. 5 F. VERBAL COMMANDS:............................................................................................................................ 5 G. SUSPECT APPROACH:........................................................................................................................... 6 H. VEHICLE APPROACH:............................................................................................................................ 6 PROCEDURE: I. VEHICLE STOPS The following procedures will be followed whenever possible. A. Decision to Stop: Officers will conduct a vehicle stop only when they have observed a traffic violation or have reasonable suspicion to believe that a crime is or has taken place (see SOP 121 Unbiased Policing). B. Radio Procedure: When conducting a traffic stop, Officers will advise Communications of the following information: 1. The location of the stop, and 2. Vehicle’s tag number. 3. At the Officer’s discretion or Communications request, additional information may be provided, such as: a. Description of the vehicle. b. Description and number of occupants 4. A vehicle description will be given if a tag is not displayed. C. Site Selection: Once an Officer decides to make a vehicle stop, he will: 1. Select an area that provides reasonable safety. 2. Avoid making traffic stops in the following locations when possible: a. Around curves. b. On hills. c. On heavily trafficked roads that result in blocked traffic lanes. d. In poorly lit areas. 3. Multi-lane Roads: a. On multi-lane roadways, the Officer will facilitate movement of the violator’s vehicle to the right shoulder by gradually changing lanes behind the violator. b. Should the violator stop abruptly, the Officer will direct them to an area of safety using hand signals or the vehicle’s public address system. SOP 229 Vehicle Stops Page 2 of 6  D. Police Vehicle Operation: At the desired location, the Officer will initiate the traffic stop by activating the vehicle’s emergency lights and/or siren as necessary. The emergency lights will remain on at all times. The driver of the vehicle will be directed to the far-right side of the roadway or the safest shoulder. E. Police Vehicle Position: Once stopped, the Police vehicle will be positioned behind the violator’s vehicle in the following manner: 1. A minimum of (15) feet behind the violator’s vehicle, and 2. At a slight angle with the front wheels turned to the left or right. 3. At night, the vehicle’s spotlight will be used to illuminate the passenger compartment of the violator’s vehicle. II. OFFICER’S APPROACH & CONTACT DURING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS The following procedure will be followed when approaching, making contact with, or issuing Traffic Citations and Warnings to traffic violators. A. Approach: When exiting the Police vehicle, the Officer should be alert to suspicious movements or actions by the vehicle operator or passengers. The Officer should also: 1. Ensure the trunk is secured. 2. Approach the violator’s vehicle on the passenger side when passing traffic is in close proximity to be a hazard to the Officer. 3. Stand behind the vehicle’s doors to avoid being knocked off-balance should the driver or passenger suddenly thrust the door open. B. Driver/Passenger Contact: Approaching a stopped vehicle is where communication begins. The Officer will: 1. Be alert at all times for the unexpected. 2. Present a professional image. 3. Decide on an appropriate course of action based upon the violator’s driving behavior only. 4. Obtain all necessary identification from the violator. 5. Advise the driver of the violation. a. Issue a verbal warning if appropriate, then advise Communications to initiate a Signal-86 (traffic warning) and to N/R (No Report) the event or: b. Issue a Uniform Traffic Citation (UTC) if appropriate. When doing so, take precautions: Avoid positioning himself or the violator in front of, between, or behind the stopped vehicles. Stand clear of passing vehicular traffic. Avoid allowing the violator to sit in the Police vehicle while citations are being completed or other Police business is being conducted. Maintain a vantage point to observe the driver or occupants of the violator’s vehicle. Members will not sit in their vehicle unless a backup is on scene. The Police In-Car Technology is a tool for aiding Officers in their duties. Attention to the technology alone may compromise the Officer’s Safety. 6. Return all identification to the violator. SOP 229 Vehicle Stops Page 3 of 6  7. Assist the violator in safely re-entering the roadway. 8. Backup Officers will maneuver their vehicle into a position most tactically sound for their role in the traffic stop. a. Backup Officers should be on the opposite side of the primary Officer and will accompany the primary Officer in approaching the stopped vehicle. b. Backup Officers will not remain seated in their vehicles unless they have assumed technology activities. III. VEHICLE STOPS USING UNMARKED POLICE VEHICLES The following procedures will guide Plainclothes Officers operating unmarked police vehicles: A. Traffic Violations: Plainclothes Officers operating unmarked vehicles will not routinely make traffic stops for traffic violations. If the Officer determines that the violator’s actions are a danger to other motorists, he will: 1. Contact Communications and request a marked Police Unit to conduct the vehicle stop. 2. Direct the marked Unit to the subject vehicle’s location. 3. Take appropriate enforcement action. B. Exigent Circumstances: If an Officer determines that the violator’s actions present an immediate hazard to others, he may attempt to conduct a traffic stop. Such actions may include, but are not limited to: 1. Excessively high speeds, 2. Racing, 3. Reckless driving, IV. STOPPING VEHICLES IN APPROACHING TRAFFIC In cases where a motorist must be stopped from oncoming traffic, the following procedure will be followed: A. Police Vehicle Operation: The Police vehicle will be driven to the extreme right portion of the roadway, and its emergency equipment will be activated with the exception of the siren. B. Officer Action: Officers will use hand signals to direct the violator to pull to the side of the roadway. At no time, will an Officer step into the path of an approaching vehicle in an attempt to stop the vehicle. V. STOPPING OVERSIZED & OVERWEIGHT VEHICLES If an Officer needs to stop a commercial vehicle or similar oversized or overweight vehicle, the following procedure will be followed. A. Site Selection: Select a location that provides enough room for the vehicle to stop safely and sufficient stability to support the vehicle’s weight. B. Stopping Distance: Allow sufficient time and distance for the driver to stop the vehicle safely. C. Approach: Approach from the rear, using the driver’s outside mirror to observe the driver and activity. SOP 229 Vehicle Stops Page 4 of 6  D. Contact: Never climb onto the vehicle to make contact with the driver. Maintain a position to the rear of the driver’s door and ask him to exit the vehicle. VI. HIGH-RISK VEHICLE STOPS (HRVS) The following procedures will be employed when an Officer initiating a vehicle stop has reason to believe that the occupants may be armed and/or dangerous. A. Site Selection: Select an area that is well-lit, free of obstructions, and has minimal pedestrian and vehicular traffic. B. Back-up Units: Prior to initiating a vehicle stop, Officers will request and wait for backup units if the situation allows. C. Radio Procedure: Officers will request a clear channel (10-33) and notify Communications of the following information: 1. Nature of the stop. 2. Location of the stop. 3. Vehicle tag number. 4. Vehicle description. 5. Description and the number of occupants, if known. D. Officer Positioning: Officers will position themselves behind their vehicle when tactically feasible, stacking vehicle pillars between themselves and the stopped suspect vehicle to provide the most advantageous point of cover. E. Identification and Intent: When tactically feasible, the Officer initiating the stop will identify themselves and address the suspect vehicle’s driver and any passengers observed to remain in the vehicle. F. Verbal Commands: The Officer initiating the stop, or the Officer with the best observation point will issue verbal commands to the occupants in the suspect vehicle. The operator of the suspect vehicle will be issued the following commands: 1. Driver, exit the vehicle with the keys in hand or hands up and empty. 2. Driver, walk back slowly to this officer until told to stop. 3. Driver face away from me a. Officers will maintain a contact and cover position at the rear of the police vehicle, walking the suspect back to a point of domination. b. Cover officer will holster their firearm, place the individual into hand restraints, and conduct a pat down for any weapons. c. Once the suspect is secured, subsequent commands will be given to the remaining occupants in the vehicle, one individual at a time. 4. Subsequent occupants will be similarly commanded to exit the vehicle. SOP 229 Vehicle Stops Page 5 of 6  5. Officers will give shadow verbal commands towards the vehicle to ensure all remaining occupants have exited prior to any approach. G. Suspect Approach: Suspects will be directed to the Officers, preventing Officers from leaving cover. H. Vehicle Approach: Officers will use the appropriate tactical procedures to ensure the trunk and passenger compartments are clear ONLY after obvious threats have diminished. ATTACHMENTS Appendix A: HRVS “Tactical Procedures” SOP 229 Vehicle Stops Page 6 of 6 Sequence of events Ini ate stop Improve posi on Contact / Cover Verbal commands to control driver / occupants Bring driver to officers first Driver cuffed and then searched Bring remaining occupant(s) one at a me to officers Occupant(s) cuffed and then searched Shadow calls and then the vehicle is cleared 229 Appendix A. HRVS from the rear of the vehicle examined: 229 Appendix A. Post HRVS clear: 229 Appendix A.