Chapter 11 Traffic Stops

What is the goal of every traffic stop?

To promote driver education and safer roadways

How can you minimalize negative and potentially unsafe results?

By conducting yourself professionally and following your training

A _______ and _______ approach will often defuse a situation that could otherwise escalate with an angry response from you

Rational, Reasonable

Language barriers can hinder _______

Communication

Request an ________ through dispatch. If an ________ is not available, try to communicate as best as you can by using gestures

Interpreter

- Treat people with respect

- Listen to what they have to say

- Make fair decisions

- Explain your actions

Encourage communication by employing procedural justice strategies.

What is a traffic stop?

The lawful and temporary detention of a pedestrian or driver of a vehicle for the purpose of traffic enforcement.

Although officers conduct traffic stops regularly, you should not become _______ when conducting one.

Complacent

What are considered safe places to perform a traffic stop?

Areas with a wide shoulder, available parking areas, and areas with an unobstructed view of oncoming traffic when entering the road

What are some of the reasons for stopping a vehicle?

BOLO's, reasonable suspicion, and probable cause

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

Unknown-risk traffic stop

There are 10 steps for completing an unknown-risk traffic stop. The first _____ steps involve initiating the stop.

Four

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

What are the first four steps when initiating an unknown-risk traffic stop?

When following a vehicle before making the traffic stop you should,

Use defensive driving techniques to catch up with the vehicle, follow at a safe distance, and signal all lane changes

What is traffic flow?

The general speed and direction of vehicle or pedestrian movement

What are some things that may affect traffic flow?

Weather conditions, school zones, construction zones, and neighborhood activities

Except in _________, choose a location where the driver can maneuver out of the flow of traffic.

Emergencies

Check the width of the _____ and the ______ to make sure that both you and the driver are far enough off the road so that other vehicles can pass

Road, shoulder

Try to pull off onto a level spot or a slight downgrade. Stopping on an _________ may cause a large vehicle to roll into the patrol vehicle.

Upgrade

- 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

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

Emergency lights, siren, headlights, PA system, and a horn.

Emergency notification equipment includes:

You are required to turn on your emergency notification equipment once,

You are in a safe location to make the stop

Leave the emergency lights on at all times to,

Warn oncoming traffic during the stop

There are 10 steps for completing an unknown-risk traffic stop. The last _____ steps involve conducting the stop.

Six

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

What are the six steps when conducting an unknown-risk traffic stop?

After stopping the driver in a safe location in an unknown-risk traffic stop, park your patrol vehicle a safe distance behind the driver's vehicle, about

1.5-2 car lengths behind the vehicle

What is an offset-angle position?

When an officer aligns the center of the vehicle's hood with the taillight of the driver's vehicle and point your vehicle's nose outward into the flow of traffic

How should the backup officer be positioned in an unknown-risk traffic stop?

A safe distance behind the primary officer, with their vehicle offset either to the left or right depending on the conditions of the traffic stop.

Before exiting your patrol vehicle,

Visually assess the vehicle from the safety of your patrol vehicle

A silent exit from the patrol vehicle may give you time to approach the driver's vehicle and

Assess the situation before the driver reacts

To prevent injury, avoid

Walking between your patrol vehicle and the subject's vehicle

Touch the trunk lid during every traffic stop,

Even if the trunk lid appears closed

Do not fix your full attention on any one part of the scene, but rather

Scan the entire vehicle and its occupants for suspicious movements.

When approaching a vehicle, if you see a passenger in the backseat stop at the back edge of the rear window, also known as the ______ and instruct the driver to roll down all the windows

C-pillar

If there are no passengers in the backseat, stop at the back edge of the driver's window, also known as the ______

B-pillar

Approaching on the passenger's side of the vehicle may give you extra time to

Listen and observe if the driver is concealing something on their right side

What is a popped or damaged ignition?

Popped open plastic housing around the steering column's base and exposed ignition wires pulled forward to start the car without a key, which may indicate a stolen vehicle

What is the no-approach tactic?

Used when the officer does not feel safe enough to approach the vehicle and calls the subject over to the patrol vehicle

During a no-approach tactic traffic stop,

Do not remain seated in your car and assume a tactical position behind one of your patrol vehicle pillars.

1. When interacting with the driver, begin by identifying yourself as a law enforcement officer, especially if you are not in uniform

2. Explain the reason for the stop. Describe what you observed the vehicle. not the driver, doing, and request the required documentation

3. Ask the driver to provide their driver's license, registration, and insurance information

What are the three main objectives during the initial interaction with the driver?

Never accept a ______ from the driver. Instead ask the driver to remove the license from the ________

Wallet

- Moving excessively and nervously

- Watching you intently, beyond normal curiosity

- Moving toward the floorboard or backseat

- Making excessive motion, beyond natural curiosity

- Sitting in a rigid, wooden posture

Driver and passenger behavior that may indicate signs of a threat:

A driver can provide proof of insurance in either a uniform _____ or _______ format, as approved by DHSMV

Paper, electronic

While the Florida driver's license has the designation for sex as either F for female or M for male, several states have a third sex or gender option, usually designated by the letter ___

X

Prior to July 1, 2023, Florida law required a person to:

Carry a concealed weapon or firearm license, along with valid identification, at all times when carrying a concealed weapon or firearm.

Florida law now allows the carry of a concealed weapon firearm without a license as long as the conditions of ________ are met

S. 790.06(12)(a), F.S.

The ____ is the only occupant in the vehicle required to provide documentation.

Driver

When conducting a traffic stop you may decide to take no action,

Issue a verbal warning, issue a written warning, issue a citation, or make an arrest

Handle civil traffic infractions for a _________ in the same way as for adults.

Juvenile

Do not argue about the _____ of the citation with the driver

Merits

Allow an upset driver time to calm down before the driver leaves. When the driver is ready, make sure they are able to re-enter traffic safely. Return to your vehicle and

Clear the traffic stop with dispatch

Occurs when you reasonably believe that the vehicle was stolen or used in the commission of a felony, or that the occupant of the vehicle:

- Has committed, or is committing a forcible felony or a crime of violence

- May be armed and dangerous

- May have an active violent felony warrant

- Poses a higher risk to yourself or the public

What is a high-risk traffic stop?

Step 1: Identify a vehicle or a suspect

Step 2: Identify the location of the suspect

Step 3: Coordinate with other officers

Step 4: Initiate the stop

What are the first four steps when initiating a high-risk traffic stop?

When you believe to have identified a vehicle or suspect matching a BOLO notify dispatch and

Request a secure channel, provide dispatch with you location and travel direction, and the suspect's or vehicle's location and description

Conduct a high-risk traffic stop alone only if the driver's actions or vehicle movement,

Places you, the driver, or public at immediate risk

An ideal, safe stopping location should have an unobserved view between the __________ and the __________

Suspect's vehicle, patrol units

During a high-risk traffic stop the ____________ serves as the primary officer

Initiating officer

____________ should know what is expected of their positions to work safely and effectively as a team

Backup officers

When initiating a high-risk traffic stop, all officers must,

Turn on their patrol vehicle's emergency lights to direct the driver to stop, and are to keep them on throughout the entire stop

Step 5: Position the patrol vehicles

Step 6: Decide officer assignments

Step 7: Issue commands

Step 8: Secure the suspects

Step 9: Clear and search the vehicle

Step 10: Conclude the stop

What are the six steps for conducting a high-risk traffic stop?

During a high-risk traffic stop, how far behind the suspect's vehicle should the primary officer stop their patrol vehicle?

15-20 feet

Generally, the primary patrol vehicle should offset ________ the driver's side of the suspect's vehicle

Toward

What is the takedown area?

A tactical area of advantage for the officer to handcuff and search the driver or passengers

Where is the "safe zone" during a high-risk traffic stop?

Behind the patrol vehicle formation and the place where secured suspects are thoroughly searched before being placed in a patrol vehicle.

Where should the first backup patrol vehicle be positioned?

To the right of the primary patrol vehicle and facing the suspect's vehicle

Where should the third vehicle (or fourth) be located during a high-risk traffic stop?

To one side or the other of the fan formation

During the high-risk traffic stop, your patrol vehicle is usually the most effective and readily available cover; this includes the

Door frame and the rear of the vehicle

Most of the time the primary officer verbally controls all occupants from the driver's side _____________ using loud, concise, and clear commands

One at a time

When should the contact officer approach the suspect during a high-risk traffic stop?

After the suspect is placed in a position of tactical disadvantage

What is the cover officer responsible for during a high-risk traffic stop?

Providing defensive protection for the contact officer during the arrest.

If an occupant absolutely refuses to exit the vehicle, treat them as a ________ and consult your agency's policies

Barricaded suspect

When initially detaining a suspect in the takedown area, conduct a __________ and secure any weapons

Cursory pat down

After the cursory pat down is complete, walk the handcuffed suspect behind the cover of the backup vehicle and

Thoroughly search them

During a high-risk traffic stop, do not remove any passengers from the vehicle until you secure the driver in the _________. However, if the driver is uncooperative and refuses to exit their vehicle, remove the passengers from the vehicle one at a time.

Patrol car

Instruct the last passenger exiting the vehicle to ____________, make sure all passengers are secured and, when possible, separate all suspects

Leave the door open

What is the plus one rule?

Assumes that if you find one of something there is another

After all suspects have been removed, have more than one officer cautiously approach the suspect's vehicle with weapons drawn and the officer with the best vantage point should,

Give commands to any undiscovered passenger

After the interior is clear, retrieve the keys or remote to open the trunk, and while one officer unlocks the trunk another officer,

Holds it down to prevent it from suddenly opening

If the occupants of the vehicle are not the suspects, explain the reason for the stop and _______

Release them

- All information gathered from the time of roll call to locating the suspect

- Confirmation of the warrant

- Contact with and possible arrest of the suspect

- Any seized evidence

When documenting a high-risk traffic stop, include: