SOP 239 - Roadway and Motorist Safety.pdf

HOLLYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT SOP #239 ROADWAY AND MOTORIST SAFETY ORIGINATION DATE: 11/01/2001 REVISED DATE: 03/09/20...

HOLLYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT SOP #239 ROADWAY AND MOTORIST SAFETY ORIGINATION DATE: 11/01/2001 REVISED DATE: 03/09/2015 APPROVED: CHIEF OF POLICE, JEFF DEVLIN PURPOSE: To establish guidelines, by which the Department provides emergency and general roadway assistance, promoting the safe and efficient traffic flow through the City of Hollywood. SCOPE: This SOP applies to all Members of the Department. POLICY: As a means towards providing courteous Police service with compassion and empathy, the Department will provide assistance to citizens and visitors promoting services that enhance safety and encourages intervention initiatives that maintain efficient and safe travel within our jurisdiction. INDEX: PROCEDURE:.............................................................................................................................................. 1 I. DISABLED VEHICLES.......................................................................................................................... 1 A. STRANDED MOTORISTS:....................................................................................................................... 1 II. INFORMATION AND DIRECTIONS...................................................................................................... 2 III. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE................................................................................................................ 2 IV. HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS................................................................................................................. 3 V. LOCKED VEHICLES............................................................................................................................. 4 VI. LAW ENFORCEMENT’S INFLUENCE ON TRAFFIC SAFETY........................................................... 4 A. ENFORCEMENT:.................................................................................................................................... 4 B. EDUCATION:......................................................................................................................................... 4 C. ENGINEERING:...................................................................................................................................... 4 PROCEDURE: I. DISABLED VEHICLES A. Stranded Motorists: While on or off-duty, if operating a marked Police vehicle within the City limits, Members encountering a stranded motorist will stop and check on the welfare of the occupants and perform the following: 1. If the Member is enroute to a call of higher priority, the Member will notify Communications and request a Unit to respond. 2. If applicable, request a SIGNAL-84 [Disabled Vehicle Assistance] with Communications: SOP #239 Roadway and Motorist Safety Page 1 of 4  3. Conduct one of the following: a. Request Communications to contact the contracted wrecker service if the vehicle is abandoned or creating a traffic hazard. b. Assist the motorist in contacting a friend, family member, or private towing service for assistance. 4. Ensure the persons safety. Dispatch will be given the starting and ending mileage if transporting citizens in a Police vehicle. 5. If the vehicle is on the roadway, remain with the vehicle providing a safety zone, with emergency lights activated until the vehicle is towed or removed from the roadway. 6. Prohibited Actions: a. Use of Police vehicles to push a stranded vehicle off the roadway, except in exigent circumstances. b. Use of battery jumper cables to jump-start a disabled vehicle. B. Abandoned Vehicles (Unattended): Members who observe or are dispatched to an unattended or abandoned vehicle should refer to the Towed or Impounded Vehicle SOP. C. Reporting of Towed Vehicles: Members will utilize the Towed Vehicle Inventory and Receipt Form and other accompanying reports as methods for recording all contracted wrecker service tow requests made by the Department. (see SOP #225 Towed or Impounded Vehicles). II. INFORMATION AND DIRECTIONS Members will provide directions and information to motorists in a clear, concise and courteous manner. If the motorist is requesting directions or information and the Member is occupied with other Police duties or conditions are unsafe to provide directions, the Member will advise the motorist to pull off the roadway and assistance will be provided as soon as possible. III. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE It is the policy of the Department to request and provide medical and fire assistance to persons and property. Members will attempt to prevent further incidents by directing others from or around the scene and diverting traffic as the situation dictates. A. Vehicle Fires: When a Member arrives on the scene of a vehicle fire he will: 1. Request the Fire Department. 2. Ensure that the vehicle is not occupied. 3. Position marked vehicle at a reasonable distance, in a safe location, and in a manner to protect and warn additional traffic. 4. Direct all persons to the safest location. 5. Evaluate the size and source of the fire and determine if an attempt can be made to extinguish the fire. 6. Secure the scene and divert traffic. B. Medical Emergencies: If Members encounter a medical emergency, they will: 1. Summon Rescue. 2. Render aid as a first responder. SOP #239 Roadway and Motorist Safety Page 2 of 4  3. Not provide an emergency escort to a medical facility or hospital, without supervisory approval. 4. Use the Department issued window punch to break a side window if the vehicle doors are locked and exigent circumstances exist. The Member is then required to: a. Notify a Supervisor. b. Complete a Mobile Field Report. IV. HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS During adverse weather conditions, hazardous roadway or roadside conditions, Police personnel will be dispatched to the location and/or the proper agency(s) will be notified. A. General Responsibilities: Members who discover an unsafe or hazardous condition will: 1. Notify Communications of the condition and location. 2. Advise if additional assistance is needed for traffic control. 3. Request the appropriate Agency for enforcement. 4. Remain at the scene until the unsafe or hazardous condition has been deemed safe. B. Debris / Roadway Defects: The following procedures will govern roadway debris: 1. If the debris is a result of an accident, the wrecker service summoned to the scene by contract is responsible for clean-up. 2. Immediate Danger: a. If no immediate danger exists, the City’s Public Works Department will be notified during normal working hours. b. If an immediate danger is present, uniformed Members will be sent to the location and a Police Supervisor will determine if a Public Works call-out is required. (1) Member(s) will either stand by until the appropriate personnel arrive, or (2) Use barricades and/ or other means to secure and/or warn the public i.e. cones, flares, police tape, etc., prior to clearing the scene with a Supervisor’s approval. C. Signs: Signs (i.e. stop / yield) that are down or obstructed will be reported to Teletype and they will contact the Hollywood Public Works Department. If a stop sign is down at an intersection, the Member will remain at the scene until the sign is replaced or until appropriate personnel arrive or portable stop sign(s) or barricades are set up. D. Traffic Signals: Members will advise Communications of malfunctioning or disabled traffic control signals. Communications will then notify the Broward County Traffic Engineering Division. If a malfunctioning traffic light creates a hazardous situation, traffic direction by uniform personnel is required until the signal is repaired. E. Power, Telephone, and Cable Lines: The following procedures will be followed for downed Power, Telephone, and Cable Lines: 1. If a power line or undetermined line is down, the Fire Department and Florida Power and Light will be notified. A uniformed Member will be dispatched to secure the location and ensure public safety. 2. If the line is positively identified as a telephone company line, AT&T will be notified and a uniformed Member will remain on scene if a hazard exists. SOP #239 Roadway and Motorist Safety Page 3 of 4  3. If the line is positively identified as a television cable, the respective cable company will be notified and a uniformed Member will remain on scene if a hazard exists. V. LOCKED VEHICLES Due to present automobile designs that could either deploy a side impact airbag or cause costly damage to internal door mechanisms, Members will not use any alternative methods of entry such as “slim jims” or lock picking devices at the requests of citizens. The Member will assist them in contacting a locksmith, wrecker service or person for assistance. VI. LAW ENFORCEMENT’S INFLUENCE ON TRAFFIC SAFETY Safe and efficient traffic flow requires a balanced approach of enforcement, education and engineering. Members can effectively influence each one of these approaches in the following ways: A. Enforcement: In addition to random traffic enforcement, Officers can participate in the following: 1. Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP): The Special Operations Section will publish monthly information on high crash locations so Officers can focus their uncommitted time on traffic enforcement efforts to reduce traffic crashes and target traffic violators. A quarterly Traffic Crash Analysis Report will be completed by the 15th of January, April, July and October and submitted to the Special Operations Division Major. 2. Citizen Complaints: The Special Operations Section will also publish monthly high complaint areas, where the focus of traffic enforcement efforts would enhance the quality of life for a neighborhood. 3. School Zones: The City currently has over 100 school zones that have been established to safeguard children. Officers can enhance the safe arrival of the children by providing particular attention to school zones in their neighborhoods. B. Education: Proactive traffic education can be an effective way of improving traffic safety within the community. The Department encourages Members to focus on the following areas: 1. Educational Campaigns: The Department participates in local, State and National driver awareness campaigns. The Special Operations Section will notify Members of upcoming events and the type of assistance requested. 2. Educational Material: The Special Operations Section occasionally receives and archives handout material for a variety of traffic awareness issues. Officers may be requested to pass out these materials during encounters with the public at traffic stops and citizen forums. 3. Officer Visibility: Members should always promote safe driving habits and close adherence to traffic laws at all times. C. Engineering: Members can also improve traffic safety by the following: 1. Traffic Safety Improvements: Concerns by citizens or Members regarding the improvement of street signs, traffic control devices, pavement markings, and general street design will be forwarded to the City of Hollywood Traffic Engineering Division. The Traffic Engineering representative will then be responsible for investigation and/or forwarding the request to the appropriate agency. 2. Liaison Services: The City’s Traffic Engineering Department also provides direction and coordination of any recommendations from homeowner’s groups and Police Department Members to the Broward County Traffic Engineer’s Office and the Florida Department of Transportation. SOP #239 Roadway and Motorist Safety Page 4 of 4