NCJ Number
136585
Date Published
1992
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This training manual details the mental preparation and operating procedures that police officers should use to meet legal requirements and avoid much of the potential danger involved in motor vehicle stops.
Abstract
Motor vehicle stops are one of the most frequently performed law enforcement duties, but they can pose serious hazards for the poorly prepared or inattentive police officer. Police officers must be sure that they have sufficient grounds to make a stop. The conditions under which motorists may be stopped vary considerably depending on road and weather conditions, time of day, volume of traffic, and the urgency involved in making the stop. Therefore, standard procedures must sometimes be adjusted. Issues to be considered include the selection of the location for the stop, the position of the officer's vehicles, the activation of emergency lights or siren, notification of the police agency that a stop has taken place, initiation of contact with the driver, and issuance of citations. The police officer should usually approach the stopped motorist on the passenger side of the vehicle. The officer may order the driver and any or all passengers of a legally stopped vehicle out of the vehicle when there is reasonable suspicion that they pose a risk to the officer's or another person's safety. Questions and answers