Chapter 11: Traffic Stops

Unit 1

Unknown Risk Traffic Stops

Lesson 1

Communication With Drivers

The goal of every traffic stop is to promote ____________ and ___________

- Driver education
- Safer roadways

During traffic stops you may issue a ___________________, make an ______, or find someone that _____________

- UTC or warning
- Arrest
- Needs help

Traffic stops are tense, and how you interact with those in the vehicle could shape the way they _____________________. Exercise ____________ and remain __________ at all times

- View law enforcement
- Procedural justice
- Professional

When stopped, a driver may react with:

- Embarrassment
- Anger
- Fear
- Excuses

When conducting a traffic stop, you can minimize negative and potentially unsafe results by conducting yourself ____________ and following your ___________

- Professionally
- Training

To practice procedural justice and decrease tension during a traffic stop, greet the driver and passengers politely, introduce __________________, and tell them why ______________. Give the driver the chance to ___________

- Yourself and your agency
- You stopped them
- Speak

To practice procedural justice and decrease tension during a traffic stop, request their _______________, ________________, and ______________. Explain why you made the stop. Describe the violation in terms of what you saw the _________ do, not the ________ do

- Driver's license
- Registration
- Proof of insurance
- Vehicle
- Driver

To practice procedural justice and decrease tension during a traffic stop, establish a ___________________ by using words that convey professionalism and respect. Emphasize the importance of the enforcement action by explaining the ___________________. Do not __________ the person on what they did wrong

- Command presence
- Seriousness of the violation
- Lecture

To practice procedural justice and decrease tension during a traffic stop, keep the detention time as _________ as possible and end the interaction with ________________ or _____________

- Short
- Thank you for your cooperation
- Drive safely

When communicating with a driver during a traffic stop, use a reasonable ________________ and give the driver the option to _______ with your request or be detained further for their ____________

- Tone of voice
- Comply
- Non-compliance

(True/False) It is appropriate at times to take personally what a driver says to you

False

- DO NOT take anything personally that a driver says to you

Some drivers you pull over may speak a language other than English. They may be:

- Fearful based on previous encounters with law enforcement
- Confused as to why they were stopped
- Concerned about what they should do during the stop

If you encounter a driver that does not speak English, request an interpreter through ___________. If one is not available, try to communicate the best you can by using ______________. Follow your agency policies on the use of ___________________ or when using ____________ to interpret for the driver

- Dispatch
- Gestures
- Translation mobile phone applications
- Passengers

Drivers with hearing impairments may also require assistance, though some can _____________; ____________ back and forth may be a good method in such a situation

- Read lips
- Writing notes

Encourage communication by employing procedural justice strategies:

- Treat people with respect
- Listen to what they have to say
- Make fair decisions
- Explain your actions

Lesson 2

Initiating the stop

A ___________ is lawful and temporary detention of a pedestrian or driver of a vehicle for the purpose of traffic enforcement

Traffic stop

Traffic stops require that you apply ___________ and __________ at all times

- Officer safety
- Situational awareness

You may decide to make a traffic stop while _________, or when your vehicle is ______________

- Driving
- Stopped or parked

When watching drivers at a traffic light intersection, park your patrol vehicle where it does not ____________ but can ____________ quickly and safely to make a stop

- Obstruct traffic flow
- Enter the road

Safe places to park your patrol vehicle while watching traffic include:

- Areas with a wide shoulder
- Available parking areas
- Areas with an unobstructed view of oncoming traffic when entering the road

A traffic stop begins the moment you observe a __________ that _____________

- Violation
- Merits a stop

Some of the reasons to stop a vehicle include:

- BOLOs
- Reasonable suspicion
- Probable cause

All traffic stops begin as ________________, because the potential risk of the situation is unknown to you at the time of the stop

Unknown risk traffic stops

During a traffic stop, keep in mind that all vehicle occupants are __________ until ____________

- Innocent
- Proven guilty

Once you see a lawful reason for a stop, decide whether it is _________, ________, and ________ to stop the vehicle

- Necessary
- Prudent
- Safe

Unsafe conditions for a stop include:

- Heavy traffic
- Construction
- Roadway conditions that do not allow room to pull over

(True/False) A bridge is a safe place for a traffic stop

False

- A bridge IS NOT a safe place for a traffic stop

(True/False) If you are driving to an emergency call or an in-progress crime, or are transporting a prisoner, stopping a driver for a traffic violation is generally not practical

True

(True/False) A reckless driver who is immediately endangering the lives of others may justify a stop, even if stopping means abandoning an earlier call

True

There are ___ steps for completing an unknown risk traffic stop

10

Steps to completing an unknown risk traffic stop:

- Step 1: Follow a vehicle through traffic until it is safe to make the traffic stop
- Step 2: Notify dispatch of the traffic stop
- Step 3: Select a safe location to stop
- Step 4: Activate emergency equipment to communicate the stop to the driver
- Step 5: Park the patrol vehicle
- Step 6: Conduct a visual assessment of the vehicle and occupants
- Step 7: Exit the patrol vehicle
- Step 8: Determine the safest approach technique
- Step 9: Interact with the driver and passengers
- Step 10: Choose a course of action

The first 4 steps of completing an unknown risk traffic stop involve _______________

Initiating the stop

Step 1 of completing an unknown risk traffic stop:

Follow the vehicle through traffic until it is safe to make the traffic stop

When catching up with a vehicle:

- Use defensive driving techniques
- Follow at a safe distance
- Signal all lane changes

A well executed traffic stop should have a minimal effect on _____________. Continuously observe the vehicle from the time of the __________ until you ______________

- Traffic flow
- Violation
- Complete the stop

When executing a traffic stop, note the vehicle's description, including its:

- Type
- Make
- Model
- Year
- Color
- LP number and state of issue
- Any other descriptors such as condition, bumper sticker, truck toolbox, etc

When executing a traffic stop, observe the driver and any passengers for unique identifiers such as:

- Glasses
- Hat
- Hair
- Beard

Step 2 of completing an unknown risk traffic stop:

Notify dispatch of the traffic stop

Your safety depends on how much _____________ you can gather before making a traffic stop

Information

When executing a traffic stop, relay the following general information to dispatch:

- Your radio ID number
- Your location
- Your general direction of travel: N,E,S,W
- A description of the driver's vehicle
- LP number and state of issue
- Number of occupants and descriptions if possible
- The need for backup or other assistance as required

Location information is crucial on ___________ and __________. If the situation escalates and you become injured or cannot use the radio, dispatch can _______________. If the final stop location changes, ________________

- Interstates
- Divided highways
- Pinpoint your location
- Update dispatch immediately

Step 3 of completing an unknown risk traffic stop:

Select a safe location to stop

Plan to conduct the stop in an area that gives the driver a place to stop safely, preferably in a __________ area with ___________

- Well lit
- Low traffic volume

_______________ is the general speed and direction of vehicle or pedestrian movement

Traffic flow

Factors that can affect traffic flow, slow drivers, and cause congestion include:

- Weather conditions
- School zones
- Construction zones
- Neighborhood activities

In addition to traffic flow, certain roadway and traffic conditions increase the potential of danger, including:

- Merge areas
- Intersections
- Acceleration lanes

If you have an assigned patrol zone, become familiar with:

- Normal traffic flow
- Speed limits and the locations where they change
- Changes to traffic flow and conditions at different times of day

When selecting a safe location to conduct a stop, check the ________ of the road and shoulder to make sure that both you and the driver are far enough off the road so that _________________. This reduces the potential for crashes, especially in ___________ where other drivers may not be able to change lanes and give you extra room

- Width
- Other vehicles can pass
- Congested areas

When selecting a safe location to conduct a stop, try to pull off onto a ______ spot or a slight __________. Stopping on an _________ may give cause a large vehicle to roll into the patrol vehicle.

- Level
- Downgrade
- Upgrade

Do not make a stop on:

- A blind curve
- On or close to a ramp
- Close to a crest of a hill
- Where road conditions could cause other vehicles to hit the patrol vehicle

Take special precautions when conducting stops in areas where _________ are present, such as school zones or parking lots

Children

Step 4 of completing an unknown traffic stop:

Activate emergency equipment to communicate the stop to the driver

Signal the driver to pull over using your _____________. Once you signal the driver, you have _________ over where the driver will stop

- Lights and sirens
- Limited control

Your interaction with the driver may begin before you ________ the driver to stop. The driver may indicate that __________ you are asking them to stop. They may look into the rear view mirror and make __________ with you, signal a _________ to pull over, or suddenly ___________

- Signal
- They know
- Eye contact
- Lane change
- Reduce speed

Once the driver acknowledges that you have directed them to stop:

- Follow the vehicle as the driver changes lanes
- Follow the vehicle at a safe distance
- Direct the driver to a safer location if you are uncomfortable with the initial location

Begin communicating the stop by pulling your patrol vehicle ___________ the driver's vehicle. You are required to turn on your _______________ once you are in a safe location to make the stop

- Directly behind
- Emergency notification equipment

Emergency notification equipment includes:

- Lights
- Sirens
- Headlights
- PA system
- Horn

(True/False) It is necessary to use all the emergency notification equipment to communicate during every traffic stop

False

- It MAY NOT be necessary to use all the emergency notification equipment to communicate during a stop

Each driver reacts differently to flashing emergency lights. Some might:

- Panic and stop in the left lane
- Skid to a stop
- Swerve

Some drivers ignore flashing emergency lights. If this happens, tap the siren for ________________

One or two seconds

The patrol vehicle's high beams, spotlight, and takedown lights will help to _______ you from the ________

- Conceal
- Driver's view

__________ are white lights facing forward on the light bar

Takedown lights

(True/False) During a traffic stop, turn off the emergency lights when you exit the vehicle

False

- During a traffic stop, leave the emergency lights on at ALL TIMES to warn oncoming traffic

If the stop occurs at night, __________ can provide additional lighting. Consider turning on the patrol vehicle's high beams, unless they interfere with ____________ or __________________ by reflecting off the driver's __________ or other object

- Spotlights
- Oncoming traffic
- Restrict your vision
- Rear bumper

While conducting a traffic stop, to illuminate the interior of the driver's vehicle, activate the ______________ if your patrol vehicle is equipped with them. This also prevents the driver from seeing ________________

- Takedown lights
- Into the patrol vehicle

During a traffic stop, if you need to move to a safer location, give clear, firm verbal directions using the ______________

PA system

Lesson 3

Conducting the Stop

The last 6 steps of completing an unknown risk traffic stop involve _______________

Conducting the stop

Step 5 of completing an unknown traffic stop:

Park the patrol vehicle

After stopping the driver in a safe location, park your patrol vehicle a safe distance behind the driver's vehicle, about ______________ behind the vehicle

1½-2 car lenghts

If the driver stops the vehicle on the right side of the road, position your vehicle in the ________________. Align the center of your vehicle's __________ with the _________ of the driver's vehicle and point your vehicle's nose ______ the flow of traffic. This position creates a ___________ for you to walk when approaching the stopped vehicle. Turn your wheels ___________ traffic. Angling the vehicle may also provide ________ if the driver shoots a weapon

- Offset angle position
- Hood
- Tail lights
- Into
- Safety corridor
- Away from
- Cover

You may have to conduct a traffic stop on the roadway; move your vehicle to the ______________ of the driving lane and place it in an _________________

- Far outside
- Offset angle position

The backup officer at a traffic stop should not use the front emergency lighting on their vehicle, to avoid ________ or _________ the primary officer, and should use only rear emergency lights. The back up officer should approach on the ___________ side of the primary officer's vehicle

- Blinding
- Silhouetting
- Passenger's

Step 6 of completing an unknown traffic stop:

Conduct a visual assessment of the driver's vehicle and occupants

During a traffic stop, visually assess the vehicle from the safety of _____________. If the occupants try to exit their vehicle, your _________ and ___________ will determine whether you order them back into the vehicle

- Your vehicle
- Discretion
- Agency policies

During a traffic stop, if the vehicle's rear end appears to be significantly lower than the front, the vehicle could be carrying:

- Stolen merchandise
- Drugs
- Tools
- A person
- A corpse

Step 7 of completing an unknown traffic stop:

Exit the patrol vehicle

A ____________ from the patrol vehicle may give you time to approach the driver's vehicle and assess the situation before the driver reacts. Adjust your portable radio volume to ______

- Silent exit
- Low

Step 8 of completing an unknown traffic stop:

Determine and apply appropriate approach techniques

To prevent injury, avoid walking __________ your patrol vehicle and the driver's vehicle. Stay out of the __________

- Between
- Flow of traffic

If you need to approach the passenger's side of the driver's vehicle, walk ________ your vehicle

Behind

Consider keeping your _________ off while on approach until you make contact with the vehicle's driver and passenger(s)

Flashlight

Clues that a license plate may not belong to the driver's vehicle include:

- The way the plate is attached
- The age of the license plate attachment relative to the age of the plate (ex. shiny, new bolts on a dirty plate)
- An expired registration sticker or tampered with decal
- Paint or dark film on the license plate
- The presence of dead bugs on the plate, suggesting it was the front plate of another vehicle

When approaching a traffic stop, check the trunk for signs of damage, such as pry marks or a hole where the trunk the lock should be. These are common signs of a _____________

Stolen vehicle

Push down on the _________ as you approach the vehicle. Doing so will lock anyone _____________

- Trunk
- Hiding inside

Touch the __________ during every stop, even if it appears closed. This transfers your _____________ to the vehicle, which will serve as evidence of your contact with the vehicle if the traffic stop deteriorates into a ___________, the driver __________, or you ___________

- Trunk lid
- Fingerprints
- Crime scene
- Flees
- Go missing

When approaching a traffic stop, stay ______ to the driver's vehicle. Depending on ___________ and _________, a flashlight may be needed during daytime. If a flashlight is used, keep it in your _____________

- Close
- Conditions
- Location
- Support hand

When approaching a vehicle at a traffic stop, if you see a passenger in the back seat, stop at the back edge of the ____________, also known as the __________. Instruct the driver to ________ all the _______ of the vehicle so that you can easily observe the ____________ in the back seat

- Rear window
- C-pillar
- Roll down
- Windows
- Passengers

When approaching a vehicle at a traffic stop, if there are no passengers in the back seat, stop at the back edge of the _____________, also known as the ____________. This gives you a position of ___________ while maintaining a safe distance when talking to the driver

- Driver's window
- B-pillar
- Tactical advantage

(True/False) The occupants of a vehicle will expect you to approach on the passengers side

False

- The occupants of a vehicle will expect you to approach on the DRIVER'S side

Approaching a vehicle on the passenger's side may give you extra time to listen and observe if the driver is ___________ something on their right side

Concealing

Observe if there is a _______________, which may indicate a stolen vehicle. Evidence of it includes popped open plastic housing around the _______________ column's base and exposed ______________ pulled forward to start a car without a key

- Popped or damaged ignition
- Steering wheels
- Ignition wires

If you do not feel safe approaching a vehicle, you may use the ________________, which calls the driver to the patrol vehicle

No approach tactic

Consider using the no approach tactic if:

- The driver's windows are tinted dark
- There are multiple occupants
- You cannot see what is going on inside the driver's vehicle

If you decide to employ the no approach tactic, assume a tactical position behind:

- One of your patrol vehicle pillars
- The driver's or passenger's side door
- The rear of the patrol vehicle

(True/False) If you decide to employ the no approach tactic do not remain seated in your car

True

Step 9 of completing an unknown traffic stop:

Interact with the driver