Traffic
Stops
Stops
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As you might expect, one of the first things you'll be doing as a police
officer will be making traffic stops. You'll quickly learn that people, no
matter their educational, financial, or social status, are at their very
worst when behind the wheel of an automobile.
There will be occasions when you stop people who are very polite and
cooperative. While you can't expect anyone to be pleased with the
prospect of receiving a citation for a traffic violation, there are a few
people out there who realize that a nasty attitude serves no purpose.
If you've ever been pulled over by a police officer, you're familiar with
that queasy feeling you get in your stomach. You also know, with rare
exception, why you're being stopped. Even though people know exactly
why you're stopping them, most will still ask the question, "Why am I
being stopped?" I particularly love this one. You stop a car for running
through a red light. Before you can even get out of your car, the
operator of the car you stopped is out and almost running toward you
shouting, "I didn't run that red light!" Yes...you're going to run into
some real winners and losers depending upon how you view their
behavior.
Your attitude has everything to do with how well or badly a traffic stop
will go for both you and the person stopped. The one thing you must
never, never do is argue with the person. You're in a position of
ultimate power, and there will never be any reason for you to engage in
any conversation that is even slightly argumentative. Sarcasm is out of
bounds as well. While people will open themselves up for more than a
few clever responses, you must resist the urge to subject a person to any
kind of humiliation.
I stopped a man for running -- really running -- a stop sign. This guy
was bad. He never stopped talking as he went from all the usual donut
shop remarks to, "Why aren't you out there arresting murderers
instead of [expletive] with me?" It was obvious from the very beginning
that he was trying to get me to argue with him. He didn't stop his loud
and abusive tone, or I should say pause; until, I handed him the citation
for his signature. He was quiet as he read the citation while I explained
to him that his signature was simply to verify his receipt of the citation,
and it was not an admission of guilt. When I finished speaking, the
man looked up at me and spoke. This time his tone was normal and
subdued, "You're as bad as that state trooper who stopped me last
month. You guys are so polite, it makes me sick."
I've always hated the phrase, "Have a nice day." When you issue a
traffic citation to a person, you have literally ruined that person's day.
To me, saying, "Have a nice day" to a person you've just nailed with a
citation is sarcastic and devoid of any sincerity. As I handed the stop
sign runner his copy of the citation, I conveyed to him my standard
parting phrase, "I hope the rest of your day goes better." It worked
pretty well on him. Instead of making a nasty remark or just ignoring
me all together, he replied, "Yea...you too."
Now...you're going to run into some people who you'll think just landed
from another planet. Right from the very beginning they'll question
everything. "Why do you want to see my license, I didn't do anything
wrong," or "I don't have to show you my license." Then, there's the,
"I'm not signing that ticket." You really need to take the time to
explain to these types that failure to follow your lawful commands will
result in arrest. Some will take you to the point of you showing your
handcuffs while others never get it; until, the judge gives them a quick
education on the subject.
From time to time you'll hear traffic stops and citations come under the
heading of "quotas." I can truthfully say, that during my career, I
never had a supervisor require any specific number of traffic citations.
Car stops is another story, but you can't classify the car stop in the
quota category. You may well have a supervisor who will require you to
perform a minimum number of car stops -- perhaps two -- during your
shift. The way people drive makes two car stops per shift a very easy
task to accomplish.
The reason for which you stop any vehicle is all important. You must
never stop anyone; unless, you have a valid reason to do so. When it
comes to moving vehicles, you'd have to be blind not to observe a valid
reason which can be as simple as an operator failing to use a turn signal
or coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. Of course, when you're
making any car stop, it should be based on something beyond an obvious
reason to stop a vehicle. The obvious reason is simply just that...an
obvious reason.
Let's say you're patrolling an area where there's been several reports of
a man trying to entice small children to get into his car to help him look
for his lost puppy. In one of the incidents, a sexual assault did occur.
There's been no good description beyond a white male operating a dark
color car. As you're sitting in your car just off the street near an
elementary school, you see a car pass slowly in front of you. A few
minutes later, you see the same car pass again in the opposite direction.
Again, the car is moving slowing, and the operator is frequently glancing
toward the sidewalk.
Ordinarily, the man's behavior is no big deal. Perhaps he's just looking
for someone or even an address. However, the operator and the car
does fit the description, limited as it is, of a possible child molester. The
activity you've observed so far does not establish probable cause for you
to stop the vehicle, so you simply get behind him. While anyone's
discomfort increases the longer a police car dogs them, anyone who's
involved in criminal activity suffers an even greater level of discomfort
once that person determines, rightly or wrongly, that he or she is the
subject of your interest.
Once you're behind this guy, he quickly changes his slow moving
searching mode, and he begins heading out of the area. You follow him
for several blocks, and it's obvious that he's trying to do everything
right including coming to complete stops at stop signs. This guy's
actually pretty good at not screwing up; until, he makes a left turn at an
intersection. The street he turns into has a left turn lane, and he cuts
his turn too short causing him to enter the left turn lane causing him to
travel on the wrong side of the center dividing line. Oops!
You turn on your overhead lights, and your man quickly pulls over.
When you approach the driver's door, the man is already removing his
license and registration from his wallet. The man is obviously
nervous...that's okay...but, he's being just too friendly. He immediately
acknowledges what he did wrong. As he gushes on about his stupidity,
you're looking around the interior of the car. You notice a child safety
seat in the back seat of the car. You also notice that the man does not
wear a wedding band. Okay, big deal. But...your next observation has
more significance. On the floor of the front passenger side you see a
dog leash. At the end of the leash is attached a dog collar...a very small
dog collar...as in puppy collar.
If it turns out that this guy is indeed the suspect responsible for the
sexual assault, your observation of that dog collar in plain view could be
significant. If you'd stopped him on a mere hunch, that observation
would be lost since you had no probable cause to stop the vehicle and be
in a position to make the observation. But...the citation you issue for
the traffic violation will clearing establish probable cause for the car
stop.
Sometimes...a person might as well put a big sign in the back window
saying, "Stop Me!" Car thieves are the best...or worst. If there were a
true definition for acting guilty, these guys would be that definition. Car
thieves are usually young, and they panic easily. You'll know what I
mean when one day you'll stop behind a car at a traffic light. Suddenly,
the doors will swing open, and several young men will jump from the car
and run in different directions. You'll then watch helplessly as the
driver less car rolls into the intersection.
While it's impossible to prepare you for even a fraction of all the
circumstances you'll encounter during traffic stops, you must never
forget that every one of them will be a potentially dangerous
undertaking.
Traffic stops are, in fact, one of the most dangerous activities you'll
perform. From 1996 to 2005, 102 police officers were feloniously killed
in this routine activity. During your academy training, this fact will be
impressed upon you. The training will be designed to ensure your
maximum protection, and you'll do well to pay close attention. As a
police officer, you'll soon learn that perceived circumstances can
instantly change into something totally unexpected. You'll also soon
learn that the traffic stop is fertile ground for changing circumstances.
officer will be making traffic stops. You'll quickly learn that people, no
matter their educational, financial, or social status, are at their very
worst when behind the wheel of an automobile.
There will be occasions when you stop people who are very polite and
cooperative. While you can't expect anyone to be pleased with the
prospect of receiving a citation for a traffic violation, there are a few
people out there who realize that a nasty attitude serves no purpose.
If you've ever been pulled over by a police officer, you're familiar with
that queasy feeling you get in your stomach. You also know, with rare
exception, why you're being stopped. Even though people know exactly
why you're stopping them, most will still ask the question, "Why am I
being stopped?" I particularly love this one. You stop a car for running
through a red light. Before you can even get out of your car, the
operator of the car you stopped is out and almost running toward you
shouting, "I didn't run that red light!" Yes...you're going to run into
some real winners and losers depending upon how you view their
behavior.
Your attitude has everything to do with how well or badly a traffic stop
will go for both you and the person stopped. The one thing you must
never, never do is argue with the person. You're in a position of
ultimate power, and there will never be any reason for you to engage in
any conversation that is even slightly argumentative. Sarcasm is out of
bounds as well. While people will open themselves up for more than a
few clever responses, you must resist the urge to subject a person to any
kind of humiliation.
I stopped a man for running -- really running -- a stop sign. This guy
was bad. He never stopped talking as he went from all the usual donut
shop remarks to, "Why aren't you out there arresting murderers
instead of [expletive] with me?" It was obvious from the very beginning
that he was trying to get me to argue with him. He didn't stop his loud
and abusive tone, or I should say pause; until, I handed him the citation
for his signature. He was quiet as he read the citation while I explained
to him that his signature was simply to verify his receipt of the citation,
and it was not an admission of guilt. When I finished speaking, the
man looked up at me and spoke. This time his tone was normal and
subdued, "You're as bad as that state trooper who stopped me last
month. You guys are so polite, it makes me sick."
I've always hated the phrase, "Have a nice day." When you issue a
traffic citation to a person, you have literally ruined that person's day.
To me, saying, "Have a nice day" to a person you've just nailed with a
citation is sarcastic and devoid of any sincerity. As I handed the stop
sign runner his copy of the citation, I conveyed to him my standard
parting phrase, "I hope the rest of your day goes better." It worked
pretty well on him. Instead of making a nasty remark or just ignoring
me all together, he replied, "Yea...you too."
Now...you're going to run into some people who you'll think just landed
from another planet. Right from the very beginning they'll question
everything. "Why do you want to see my license, I didn't do anything
wrong," or "I don't have to show you my license." Then, there's the,
"I'm not signing that ticket." You really need to take the time to
explain to these types that failure to follow your lawful commands will
result in arrest. Some will take you to the point of you showing your
handcuffs while others never get it; until, the judge gives them a quick
education on the subject.
From time to time you'll hear traffic stops and citations come under the
heading of "quotas." I can truthfully say, that during my career, I
never had a supervisor require any specific number of traffic citations.
Car stops is another story, but you can't classify the car stop in the
quota category. You may well have a supervisor who will require you to
perform a minimum number of car stops -- perhaps two -- during your
shift. The way people drive makes two car stops per shift a very easy
task to accomplish.
The reason for which you stop any vehicle is all important. You must
never stop anyone; unless, you have a valid reason to do so. When it
comes to moving vehicles, you'd have to be blind not to observe a valid
reason which can be as simple as an operator failing to use a turn signal
or coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. Of course, when you're
making any car stop, it should be based on something beyond an obvious
reason to stop a vehicle. The obvious reason is simply just that...an
obvious reason.
Let's say you're patrolling an area where there's been several reports of
a man trying to entice small children to get into his car to help him look
for his lost puppy. In one of the incidents, a sexual assault did occur.
There's been no good description beyond a white male operating a dark
color car. As you're sitting in your car just off the street near an
elementary school, you see a car pass slowly in front of you. A few
minutes later, you see the same car pass again in the opposite direction.
Again, the car is moving slowing, and the operator is frequently glancing
toward the sidewalk.
Ordinarily, the man's behavior is no big deal. Perhaps he's just looking
for someone or even an address. However, the operator and the car
does fit the description, limited as it is, of a possible child molester. The
activity you've observed so far does not establish probable cause for you
to stop the vehicle, so you simply get behind him. While anyone's
discomfort increases the longer a police car dogs them, anyone who's
involved in criminal activity suffers an even greater level of discomfort
once that person determines, rightly or wrongly, that he or she is the
subject of your interest.
Once you're behind this guy, he quickly changes his slow moving
searching mode, and he begins heading out of the area. You follow him
for several blocks, and it's obvious that he's trying to do everything
right including coming to complete stops at stop signs. This guy's
actually pretty good at not screwing up; until, he makes a left turn at an
intersection. The street he turns into has a left turn lane, and he cuts
his turn too short causing him to enter the left turn lane causing him to
travel on the wrong side of the center dividing line. Oops!
You turn on your overhead lights, and your man quickly pulls over.
When you approach the driver's door, the man is already removing his
license and registration from his wallet. The man is obviously
nervous...that's okay...but, he's being just too friendly. He immediately
acknowledges what he did wrong. As he gushes on about his stupidity,
you're looking around the interior of the car. You notice a child safety
seat in the back seat of the car. You also notice that the man does not
wear a wedding band. Okay, big deal. But...your next observation has
more significance. On the floor of the front passenger side you see a
dog leash. At the end of the leash is attached a dog collar...a very small
dog collar...as in puppy collar.
If it turns out that this guy is indeed the suspect responsible for the
sexual assault, your observation of that dog collar in plain view could be
significant. If you'd stopped him on a mere hunch, that observation
would be lost since you had no probable cause to stop the vehicle and be
in a position to make the observation. But...the citation you issue for
the traffic violation will clearing establish probable cause for the car
stop.
Sometimes...a person might as well put a big sign in the back window
saying, "Stop Me!" Car thieves are the best...or worst. If there were a
true definition for acting guilty, these guys would be that definition. Car
thieves are usually young, and they panic easily. You'll know what I
mean when one day you'll stop behind a car at a traffic light. Suddenly,
the doors will swing open, and several young men will jump from the car
and run in different directions. You'll then watch helplessly as the
driver less car rolls into the intersection.
While it's impossible to prepare you for even a fraction of all the
circumstances you'll encounter during traffic stops, you must never
forget that every one of them will be a potentially dangerous
undertaking.
Traffic stops are, in fact, one of the most dangerous activities you'll
perform. From 1996 to 2005, 102 police officers were feloniously killed
in this routine activity. During your academy training, this fact will be
impressed upon you. The training will be designed to ensure your
maximum protection, and you'll do well to pay close attention. As a
police officer, you'll soon learn that perceived circumstances can
instantly change into something totally unexpected. You'll also soon
learn that the traffic stop is fertile ground for changing circumstances.
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| Copyright © 2006 - 2008 - Barry M. Baker - CareerPoliceOfficer.com |
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