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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-04-2003 ICPD Reports/MemosDistributed by Capt Johnson - ICPD MOTOR VEHICLE STOPS y SECTION 27 MOTOR VEHICLE STOPS Model Policy Effective Date October 31, 1991 Subject Motor Vehicle Stops Number Reference SpecialInstructions - i Distribution Reevaluation Date No. Pages November 1, 1992 1 2 1. PURPOSE It is the purpose of this policy to establish guidelines for stopping and approaching motorists in a manner that promotes the safety of the officer and the motorist. if. POLICY Although stopping motorists on the highway for traffic violations or other purposes is often considered a routine function of patrol officers, it is one that has been demonstrated to be potentially dangerous for both officers and motorists even during apparently "routine" situations. Therefore, it is the policy of this department that motor vehicle stops shall be performed profession- ally and courteously, and with a view towards educating the public about proper driving procedures while consistently recognizing and taking the necessary steps to minimize the dangers involved in this activity for the officer, the motorist and other users of the highway. 111. PROCEDURES A. Stopping and Approaching Traffic Violators The following procedures are to be followed whenever possible. It is recognized that varying conditions such as roadway construction, volume of traffic, and the urgency of making vehicle stops may require officers to adjust these procedures to particular conditions. 1. Officers shall perform vehicle stops only when they have articulable reason to do so. 2. Once an initial decision has been made to stop a motorist, the officer shall select an area that provides reasonable safety, avoiding curves, hills, heavily trafficked and poorly lit areas and roads without shoulders. Whenever possible, the officer shall also avoid the use of private drives, business locations and areas where a large volume of spectators are likely to gather. 3. When a location has been selected for the stop, the officer shall notify the communications center of its nature —providing unit location, a description of the vehicle, vehicle tag number and the number of occupants. At the officer's discretion or dispatcher's request, additional information may be exchanged. 4. At the desired location, the officer should signal the operator to stop at the far right side of the roadway or at the safest shoulder by activating the overhead emergency lights and siren as necessary. 6. 8. a. On multilane roads, the officer may facilitate movement to the right shoulder by gradually changing lanes behind the violator until the right side of the roadway is reached. b. Should the violator stop abruptly in the wrong lane or location, the officer should instruct him to move by using the appro- priate hand signals or by activating the vehicle's public address system. Once properly stopped, the officer should position the police vehicle about one-half to one car length behind the violator's vehicle and at a slight angle, with the front approximately 2 feet to the traffic side of the violator's vehicle. a. At night, the spotlight should not be used to direct the violator but may be used to illuminate the vehicle's interior once stopped. The patrol vehicle should use its low beams if high beams would blind oncoming motorists. When exiting the patrol vehicle, the officer should be particularly alert to suspicious movements or actions of the vehicle operator or passengers. Approaching from the driver's side, the officer should be observant of the passenger compart- ment and stop at a point to the rear of the trailing edge of the left front door in order to commu- nicate with the driver. a. Where circumstances dictate, particularly where traffic is close enough to create a potential problem, the officer may choose to approach the violator's vehicle from the right-hand side and stop at the trailing edge of the right front door. b. When the violator's vehicle has occupants in the rear seat, the officer should approach to a point near the leading edge of the left front door, being particularly observant of occupant movements and choosing a path that will not allow the occupants to thrust the door open against the officer. c. In two -officer police vehicles, the passenger officer shall be responsible for radio com- munications, note taking and relaying messages to the communications center. He will also act as an observer and cover for his fellow officer. Nonuniformed officers operating unmarked patrol vehicles with concealed emergency lights and siren shall not normally make vehicle stops for traffic violations. In situations where failure to act would create unreasonable risks of injury, death or significant property damage, such personnel shall contact the communications center to request a marked patrol unit to make the stop and may, depending upon the urgency of the situation, activate emergency lights and siren to make a traffic stop. 9. Nonuniformed officers operating vehicles not equipped with emergency lights or siren shall not make motor vehicle stops unless there is imminent danger of loss of life should they fail to act. In other less urgent cases that demand attention, officers shall contact the communi- cations center, request that a marked patrol vehicle perform the stop, and assist in directing the marked unit to the subject vehicle's location. B. Issuing Citations 1. When issuing citations, conducting roadside sobriety tests or conversing with the violator, the officer and other parties shall be positioned to the side of the road, clear of the motor vehicles. At no time shall the officer or others stand in front of, between or behind the stopped vehicles. 2. During the stop, the violator should remain in his motor vehicle while the officer writes the citation or conducts other business. Violators should not be permitted to sit in patrol vehicles while citations are being prepared or other police business is being conducted. 3. When preparing citations, the officer should position paperwork and related materials in a manner that allows him to maintain vantage over actions of the violator and other occupants. C. Stopping an Approaching Motorist In cases where a motorist must be stopped from oncoming traffic, the following actions may be taken: 1. Drive the police vehicle to the extreme right portion of the roadway and, as the violator approaches, signal him to stop by using hand signals and emergency lights. 2. Because of the potential hazard involved, an officer shall not leave his vehicle when attempt- ing to stop oncoming motorists. 3. If the subject motorist complies with the instructions, the police vehicle may then be turned around and appropriately positioned to the rear of the violator's vehicle. 4. Should the motorist fail to comply with the officer's instructions, the officer should turn the vehicle around and pursue, stop and approach the violator in the prescribed manner. D. Stopping a Following Violator When stopping a motorist to the rear of the police vehicle, the following procedures may be followed: 1. The officer should drive to the right shoulder of the road and, as the violator approaches, signal him to stop. 2. The officer should not exit his vehicle in order to signal the subject motorist. 3. Should the motorist fail to comply, the officer should return to the roadway and stop and approach him in the prescribed manner. E. Making High -Risk Vehicle Stops The following procedures may be employed when an officer initiating a vehicle stop has reason to believe that the occupants may be armed and dangerous: 1. When planning to stop the suspect vehicle, the officer shall notify the communications center; describe the nature or reason for the stop; provide information on the vehicle, tag number and number of occupants; and request appro- priate assistance to make the stop. 2. An officer should not individually initiate high - risk vehicle stops unless back-up units will not be available in an appropriate amount of time or the urgency of the situation demands immediate action. 3. After selecting an appropriate location and with adequate support units in position, the officer should signal the suspect to stop. 4. Officers should position their vehicles approx- imately 30 feet behind the suspect vehicle, in positions that will maximize opportunities for cover and in a manner that will illuminate the interior of the vehicle to the occupants' disadvantage. 5. The officer initiating the stop, or the officer with the best observation point, should issue verbal commands to vehicle occupants through the vehicle's public address system, if available. Only one officer shall issue commands. 6. Once the suspect vehicle has stopped, officers should exit their vehicles quickly and assume positions of cover. 7. The officer in charge shall first identify himself and then notify the occupants that they are considered to be armed and dangerous, that all occupants of the vehicle are under arrest and that all instructions are to be followed without hesitation or suspicious movements. 8. The operator of the suspect vehicle should be ordered in separate commands to do the following: lower his window, remove the ignition keys with his left hand, drop them on the ground, open the door from the outside, step out of the vehicle, turn completely around, face away from the officers, walk backward until commanded to stop and lie face down on the ground with hands stretched far to the sides. Subsequent occupants should be similarly commanded until all are in position to be handcuffed and searched. 9. With appropriate cover, officers should then approach the suspect vehicle to inspect the passenger compartment and trunk. F. Stopping Oversize and Overweight Vehicles In the event an officer needs to stop commercial and similar oversize or overweight vehicles, the following procedures should be followed: 1. Select a location for the stop that provides enough room for the vehicle and sufficient stability to support the vehicle's weight, and allow the operator sufficient time and distance to make the stop. 2. Approach the cab from the rear, using the driver's outside mirror to observe the driver and activity in the cab. 3. Never climb onto the vehicle to make contact with the operator. Maintain aposition to the rear of the driver's door and ask him to exit the vehicle, if and when necessary. This project was supported by Grant No. 87-SN-CX-1(077'_ awarded by the Bureau of justice Assistance, Office of.. justice Programs, U.S. Department --of )ustite. The Assistant Attorney General, Office ofqustice Programs, coordinates the activities of the following progranVoffices and bureaus: the Bureau of justice Assistance, the Bureau of justice Statistics, National Institute of justice, Office of juvenile and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office of Victims of Crime. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not represent the official position or policies of the United States Department of justice. Every effort has been made by the IACP National Law Enforcement Policy Center staff and advisory board to ensure that this model policy incorporates the most current information and contemporary professional judgment on this issue. However, law enforcement administrators should be cautioned that no "model" policy can meet all the needs of any given law enforcement agency. Each law enforcement agency operates in a unique environment of federal court rulings, state laws, local ordinances, regulations, judicial and administrative decisions and collective bargaining agreements that must be considered. In addition, the formulation of specific agency policies must take into account local political and community perspectives and customs, prerogatives and demands, often divergent law enforcement strategies and philosophies, and the impact of varied agency resource capabilities among other factors. IACP National Law Enforcement Policy Center Motor Vehicle Stops Concepts and Issues Paper j April 1"2 I. INTRODUCTION A. Purpose of the Document This paper is designed to accompany the Model Policy on Motor Vehicle Stops established by the IACP National Law Enforcement Policy Center. This paper provides essential background material and supporting documentation to provide greater understanding of the developmental philosophy and implementation require- ments for the model policy. This material will be of value to law enforcement executives in their efforts to tailor the model to the requirements and circumstances of their community and their law enforcement agency. B. Background Motor vehicle stops are one of the most frequently performed activities for many law enforcement officers. As such, there is a tendency among some officers to regard these encounters as routine and in some cases to approach them without sufficient caution or regard for the inherent dangers. FBI statistics indicate that vehicle stops, on a national basis over a 10-year period, account for about 11 percent of all officers feloniously killed or assaulted in the line of duty. Unlike many other police -citizen encounters, motor vehicle stops involve a variety of potential dangers. In a majority of such cases these stops involve police contact with individuals whose identities, background, mental state and motivations are unknown. A police officer is therefore at a distinct initial disadvantage without information concerning potential danger. In addition, many motorists, and particularly those involved in or concealing criminal activities, carry firearms and other weapons in their vehicles or on their person. Recognizing that most vehicle stops involve some checks of personal identification and vehicle registration, many suspects are willing to resort to violence rather than risk being identified and arrested. The increased use of motor vehicles for the transpor- tation and selling of illegal drugs also adds to the possibility that an unsuspecting officer may happen upon a dangerous confrontation even when initiating what appears to be a simple traffic stop. Even otherwise law-abiding citizens can become assaultive during vehicle stops because of fear, frustration or anxiety caused or precipitated by the police encounter. In particular, intoxicated persons or those under the influence of illegal drugs often lack the judgment and restraint necessary to control themselves, particularly when they realize that they will be or are being taken into custody. The physical conduct of a vehicle stop can also be hazardous to officers and other users of the roadway when it involves the use of inadequate areas to stop, poor lighting, high traffic speeds, improper vehicle placement or a variety of other factors. Therefore, it is essential that all traffic stops be given the same attention and degree of caution and that established procedures for these responsibilities be adhered to closely. This paper discusses vehicle stops from two distinct levels —routine vehicle stops and high -risk vehicle stops. However, it should be made clear that these two classifications are used primarily for purposes of organizing the discussion. Unless an officer has information that allows him to clearly designate a vehicle stop as high risk —such as information that the driver is a wanted fugitive or is driving a stolen automobile — the stop should generally be regarded as "unknown" in terms of danger. The majority of all traffic citation stops fall within this unknown classification in which the officer has little or no information about the driver's background, present mental state, propensity toward violence or other important matters. Only during the subsequent police -citizen encounter will information normally be gathered to allow an officer to formulate an opinion concerning the risks involved. During these encounters, officers should be highly observant of the violator and his surroundings and be prepared to quickly change their assessment of the situation based upon information gathered. An officer who is quick to formulate an opinion concerning the risk of a vehicle stop, and who is relatively inflexible in modifying that viewpoint throughout the encounter based on incoming information, is unnecessarily placing himself in harm's way. A publication of the IACP National Law Enforcement Policy Center 515 North Washington Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314-2357 This document is the result of work performed by the IACP National Law Enforcement Policy Center. The views and opinions expressed in this document are sanctioned by the center's Advisory Board and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. II. PROCEDURES A. Authority to Stop Motorists Making a vehicle stop requires some planning by a law enforcement officer. First, officers must be sure that they have sufficient grounds to make a stop. In Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Edwards the U.S. Supreme Court found that "An individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy in an automobile and when a vehicle is stopped, a seizure within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment has occurred." Quoting the court's 1979 Prouse decision the justices ruled that (Elxcept in those situations in which there is at least articulable and reasonable suspicion that a motorist is unlicensed or that an automobile is not registered, or that either the vehicle or an occupant is otherwise subject to seizure for violation of law, stopping an automobile and detaining the driver in order to check his driver's license and the registration of the automobile are unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment.1 The critical question under the Fourth Amendment is whether the seizure was "reasonable." Generally, to meet this test, the officer must be able to demonstrate that a traffic violation or a criminal act has been committed in order to stop a vehicle. Discretionary stops have been considered violations of the Fourth Amend- ment because of their arbitrary, intrusive and discrim- inatory nature. In addition to the legal requirements on conducting vehicle stops, officers should not initiate traffic stops if they are improperly attired or equipped. Specifically, officers who are not in uniform and who are operating unmarked patrol vehicles with concealed emergency lights and siren should not normally initiate vehicle stops for traffic violations. For example, plainclothes officers working investigative assignments should contact communications to request that a patrol officer make the stop rather than initiate action on their own. Only in situations where failure to act would create an unnecessary risk of injury, death or serious property damage should these officers intervene. Where officers are in plainclothes and operating vehicles without emergency lights or siren, attempts to stop a motor vehicle should be made only in the most serious and urgent of situations. When not in uniform and/or not operating an emergency vehicle, an officer cannot easily or readily make his identity known. Under these circumstances, violators, bystanders or even other law enforcement personnel may take actions that may not be in the officer's or others' best interest. For example, violators may easily and naturally mistake the officer for a pursuing civilian with suspicious intentions and be evasive or take aggressive actions against the officer. Therefore, off -duty officers or others who are operating out of uniform and in unmarked vehicles without emergency lights or siren should only attempt to make vehicle stops when they reasonably believe that failure to do so would result in imminent loss of life. But whatever the circumstance, the initial burden of justification will generally fall on the officer to demonstrate the prudence of his decision to take traffic enforcement actions when so attired and equipped. As an alternative to personal involvement where action must be taken, the officer should request that a marked patrol unit make the stop while the officer assists in directing the unit to the violator's location. B. Stopping and Approaching Traffic Violators The conditions under which motorists may be stopped vary considerably depending upon road and weather conditions, time of day, volume of traffic and the urgency involved in making the stop, among other factors. Therefore, standard procedures may sometimes need to be adjusted by officers in order to accommodate these various circumstances. Once the decision to make a vehicle stop has been made, the officer should select a location that will allow him to effectively and safely deal with the motorist. For example, lighting conditions are a significant factor during nighttime stops and it is normally prudent to use street lighting where available. At the same time, officers should not position their vehicles so that their headlights will blind oncoming motorists or allow stopped vehicles to do the same. The stop should not be made so that it unnecessarily interferes with normal traffic flow, even though some slow down of traffic can generally be expected as a result of the actions of curious motorists. Normally, vehicle stops should be made on the right shoulder of the highway or in the breakdown lane of thoroughfares if such lanes are available. However, on multilane highways divided with permanent barriers it may be advisable to conduct the stop in the left-hand breakdown lane, if available, rather than attempt to cross several lanes of traffic. In either case, on freeways and other high-speed roadways it is critical that the vehicles of both the violator and the officer are well off the traffic lanes. Whenever possible, officers should avoid the use of businesses or private drives for conducting vehicle stops unless there are no other reasonable options and they should never conduct traffic stops on roads without shoulders, on sharp curves or where the flow of traffic or configuration of the roadway would create a potential hazard for the officer, the violator or others. At the desired location, the officer should signal the violator to stop his vehicle by activating emergency lights and, if necessary, using hand signals, the vehicle's horn or siren. Some discretion should be used in activating the siren to make routine traffic stops as it can startle some motorists and, in some cases, cause panic reactions such as making dangerous lane changes or even stopping in the middle of the roadway. In most cases, following the violator while activating the vehicle's emergency lights will be sufficient to gain the violator's attention and guide him_ to tho desired stopping area. The violator should be directed to stop yrslfar to the right of the roadway as possible under the circumstan- ces. At night, if the situation dictates, instructions to the driver may best be given through the patrol vehicle's public address system. On interstate highways and other thoroughfares where the sFFeed of heavy vehicles and other traffic creates particularly difficult conditions, it may be preferable to move the vehicles to a location off the roadway before conducting the business associated with the stop. Directing a violator to exit an off ramp from a freeway or expressway by using the patrol vehicle's public address system is another alternative to the use of other more dangerous stopping alternatives. While stopping the violator or immediately after the stop has taken place, the officer must notify commun- ications that a traffic stop is being made and provide a complete description of the vehicle, its license tag number and the number and general description of its occupants. Because many agencies are able to provide officers with status information on vehicles very quickly, it is generally advisable for the officer to remain in his vehicle until this information becomes available. This procedure is particularly recommended when officers are operating at night, are assigned to one-man vehicles, patrolling in rural or remote areas, or where they have any suspicions that the vehicle may be stolen or its occupants wanted or otherwise dangerous. Once the stop is made, the officer should position the patrol vehicle about 30 to 40 feet behind the violator's vehicle and at a slight angle with the front about 2 feet to the traffic side of the violator's vehicle. This position provides some protection to the officer and violator from traffic approaching from the rear. It also provides the officer with the front portion of the patrol vehicle that could be used for cover during an attack. In two -man patrol units, the driver should be responsible for initiating contact with the violator while the second officer provides contact with communica- tions and provides backup for his partner. Upon exiting the patrol vehicle, the backup officer should assume a position at the right rear door of the violator's vehicle that provides good visibility of the operator and any occupants. The approach pattern and position of the officer initiating the contact will vary somewhat depending upon the nature and circumstances of the vehicle stop. The model policy advocates approaching the violator from the driver's side. However, this approach is predicated on the assumption that there is minimal perceived risk in conducting the stop. For example, most officers can be reasonably assured that a vehicle stop for a minor traffic violation conducted during daylight hours and involving a mother with small children is one involving very low risk. Experienced officers can normally point to innumerable examples of similar types of stops where the risk is negligible. Under these circumstances, an approach on the driver's side of the vehicle is reasonable. However, when conducting vehicle stops that are less predictable or where the circumstances are less than desirable —that is, when operating in one-man patrols, in rural areas, during nighttime hours or when more than one individual is in the vehicle, for example —it is recommended that the officer approach the subject vehicle from the passenger's side. A passenger side approach is recommended for officer safety and survival. From the safety perspective, dealing with the violator on the passengers side takes the officer away from the traffic lanes of the roadway. More officers are injured during traffic stops by approaching motorists than by attacks from suspects within vehicles. Nighttime is particularly risky for officers, as many motorists are confused by the lights of the patrol vehicle. Drunk drivers, who are more prevalent at night, have particular difficulty in dealing with Bashing lights and are often involved in nighttime accidents at such stops. In addition to officer safety, an approach from the passenger's side provides the officer with the element of surprise, as most motorists are not accustomed to this practice. An officer also has far greater visibility when approaching from the passenger side and, consequently, far more warning and time to respond to the threat of a firearm. For example, upon reaching the right rear door of the suspect vehicle, an officer has a far better view of the front seat of the vehicle and the position of the occupants' arms. He also has cover readily available by simply falling to the ground where he can move anywhere around the vehicle. If the driver wishes to attack the officer with a weapon when the officer is in this position, he is forced to turn his head and shoulders and then swing his arm over the rear of the seat to do so. This movement is far more difficult for the would-be attacker than one in which he need only turn and point his weapon out the left side of the vehicle, should the officer be approaching from the passenger side. Case studies also demonstrate that attackers are far less accurate in hitting targets from this position, generally "pulling" the shot high and to the left or hitting the door post. When approaching on the driver's side, an officer has little if any warning and essentially no cover once he moves alongside of the vehicle. In this position, the driver need only raise a handgun and rest it on the door panel to provide a clear shot of the `p ffcer with essentially no fear of retaliation. Many case studieslof officers killed during vehicle stops demonstrate tyre potential danger of a driver's side approach when unknowingly dealing with an arced and` dangerous offender. y' If several persons occupy a stopped vehicle and the officer has some indication of potential risk, he may choose to direct the driver to exit the vehicle and join him on the curbside of the patrol unit. When using either the driver's side or passenger's side approach to the subject vehicle, officers should keep their strong hand free of objects so that their sidearm is readily available. It is also good to routinely check the vehicle's trunk lid to ensure that it is locked, thus eliminating any threat from a suspect hiding within. Particular care must be taken when approaching panel trucks and vans, vehicles with heavily tinted windows and any other vehicle that in any way prohibits an officer from clear view of its interior. In the case of panel trucks and vans, approaching officers should keep the violator in sight by using the vehicle's rear view mirror and be aware of any movement of the rear or side doors. In this or in any other instance during a vehicle stop, officers should remember that they can and should exercise their legal authority to order any or all individuals out of a vehicle if they feel their safety is threatened. Additionally, officers should never hesitate to wait for backup assistance when confronting even a routine traffic stop that appears suspicious or unnecessarily hazardous. In the case of panel trucks, an officer may decide to use a more cautious approach by requesting the driver to exit the vehicle. Using the patrol unit's public address system or by voice command he may also instruct the driver to open the rear and side doors of the van to ensure that there are no other persons inside. In the case of motor vehicles with heavily tinted windows, an officer may also request the driver to exit the vehicle and to roll down one or more of the windows to provide a clear view of the interior. At night the effect of tinted windows can be largely negated by requesting the driver to turn on the vehicle's interior dome light and by turning off the patrol vehicle's headlights. When viewing the interior of the violator's vehicle, officers should never position their face or body within reach of the violator or a passenger. Agencies that use citation clipboards should consider using those designed to provide some ballistic resistance. These may be used as a form of portable cover by holding them between the officer and the violator while interacting face-to- face during a vehicle stop. C. Issuing Citations Unless the officer orders the violator out of his vehicle for the purpose of conducting a sobriety check, to frisk the vehicle for weapons or for any other reason, the violator should normally remain in his vehicle. Considering that the most dangerous point during a vehicle stop is during the approach and initial contact, officers should ensure that they maintain the same degree of caution whenever contact is broken with the violator and a subsequent approach and recontact is necessary. This is often the case when an officer returns to his vehicle to write a citation and then returns to the suspect vehicle with the citation. This and any subsequent approach should be viewed with the same caution as the first approach to the vehicle. In some instances, a stopped traffic violator will exit his vehicle in an apparently innocent attempt to speak with the officer. This poses a safety hazard to the individual who may be exposed to traffic in the travel lane. It can also create a hazard to the officer through open contact with an unknown individual. Where more than one individual emerges from the subject vehicle, officers must exercise particular caution to ensure that the situation does not escalate or get out of control. An officer must maintain a comfortable zone of safety from the individual who approaches in this manner, and be particularly alert to hands that are not visible and any furtive movements of the individual. In these situations, it is normally best to ask the individual to stop and return to his vehicle. If he fails to do so, the officer should make a tactical withdrawal and/or secure the most appropriate police weapon in anticipation of a possible attack. In these situations, the recommended 30 to 40 foot distance between the patrol vehicle and suspect vehicle is vitally important, as it gives the officer some essential room in which to maneuver and additional time in which to assess the situation and take appropriate tactical actions. The officer who has positioned his vehicle only a car length away from the violator has little or no time to respond to an aggressive individual who approaches in this manner. An officer must also consider whether the violator who approaches him in this manner is attempting to draw him away from his vehicle for fear that it may reveal incriminating evidence of some type. For safety reasons, if business must be transacted outside the vehicle, it should be conducted to the side of the road clear of the motor vehicles. Violators and officers should never position themselves in front of, behind or in between stopped motor vehicles. The model policy also takes the position that violators should not be permitted to sit in patrol vehicles while a citation is being written or other business is being transacted. From this position, the violator is able to overhear radio transmissions that could compromise officer security and safety. Within the patrol vehicle the violator is also within reach of other weapons such as a shotgun, nightstick, mace or the officer's own sidearm, for example. In some instances, most often involving inclement weather, some agencies permit civilians to be seated in police vehicles while information is collected, citations issued or other business is transacted. While this situation is unquestionably more convenient for officers and citizens alike under certain circum- stances, case studies have demonstrated that allowing an essentially unknown person in one's patrol vehicle without even a pat -down search is a dangerous practice. Although it is self-evident that an officer should always keep the violator clearly visible during the vehicle stop, should never turn his back on the violator or allow himself to be distracted, many tragedies have occurred because of failure to observe these simple and basic rules. For example, some officers become so preoccupied with the completion of necessary paper- work that they lose visual and mental contact with the violator. To help avoid this, an officer should position paperwork in a manner that also allows him to maintain visual contact with the violator, such as by placing the citation book, registration and related documents on the steering wheel where they will be about eye level with the violator's vehicle. A preferable alternative in many cases is for the officer to position himself in the right front seat of the patrol vehicle. This position can be confusing to a would-be attacker, as it forces him to confront the officer in a cross -over pattern whether he exits his vehicle to make the attack or fires a weapon directly from his vehicle. It also provides the officer with ready access to open ground and cover from his vehicle without potential direct exposure WAraffic and without being encumbered in any way during; the exit by the steering wheel. i D. Stopping an Approaching or Following Vehicle In a variety of situations, officers will be required io stop motorists who are approaching them -in the on- coming travel lane. - To make this type of vehicle stop safely and effectively, the officer should move his vehicle as far as possible to the right side of the highway and signal the approaching motorist to stop by using hand signals and emergency lights. This approach is best used on two- lane roads with shoulders that allow the officer to pull off the travel lane. It is also a preferred maneuver when the travel lane behind the officer is clear of traffic or where traffic is very light. Under these conditions, officers reduce the risk of confusing motorists behind them and creating other traffic hazards. Only under unusual circumstances should an officer attempt to stop an oncoming motorist by leaving his vehicle to direct the individual to stop. This is standard practice at sobriety checkpoints and similar traffic checks where warning devices and similar precautions are employed to reduce traffic danger. However, without these precautionary measures it is a potentially dangerous practice that should not normally be used. Whatever the reaction of the violator —whether he stops as directed, does not see the officer or ignores his signals —the officer will be required to turn his vehicle around into the opposite lane of travel in order to approach the violator in the manner previously described. In many instances this is the preferred means of stopping the motorist rather than making any attempt to gain his attention from the opposite lane. The procedures for stopping a motorist following a police vehicle are somewhat easier than stopping a violator driving on the opposite side of the roadway. In this situation, the simplest maneuver is to pull the patrol vehicle over to the shoulder of the roadway and, as the motorist approaches, signal him to pull his vehicle over. If the motorist fails to comply, the officer may then activate emergency fights, return to the highway and approach the violator in the prescribed manner. E. Making High -Risk Vehicle Stops Making a high -risk vehicle stop requires planning and cautious action by the arresting law enforcement officer. The stopping maneuver and removal of suspects is a dangerous undertaking, but one in which inherent risks can be minimized by the systematic use of officer survival skills and established tactical procedures. Officers should never minimize the risks involved in a high -risk stop: the threat posed by imminent arrest can cause an individual to react in unpredictable and often reckless ways. Individuals who face criminal charges and serious punishment will be emotionally charged and may be prepared to take what is perceived by others to be impossible risks to effect an escape or overcome an officer. High -risk vehicle stops may be defined as "any vehicle stop in which the officer knows or reasonably believes that the operator or other passengers in the vehicle are armed and dangerous." Although officers must have reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle, the basis for the stop need not involve suspicion that a felony has been committed in order to employ high -risk vehicle stop procedures. The term "felony stop," which has been used traditionally in these contexts, paints a common scenario in which officers are confronting individuals who are attempting to escape the scene of a major crime or a situation in which the suspects or their vehicle match the description of wanted persons or stolen property, respectively. However, high -risk vehicle stop proce- dures may be and sometimes should be employed under other circumstances. For example, a so-called "routine" vehicle stop involving traffic violations may quickly develop into a high -risk vehicle stop when more facts are established by the officer. As noted in the background section of this document, to be fully prepared for any contingency, officers should develop a mindset that regards all but the obvious high - risk stops as unknown in terms of danger. Only then will officers be able to keep an open mind toward the individuals involved and maintain an adequate degree of mental preparation for any contingency. In this manner, the officer will be in a position to critically evaluate any new information about the violator or the circumstances of the stop and quickly alter his procedures to properly accommodate any added degree of risk. It is not possible or reasonable to attempt to define all the conditions under which high -risk vehicle stop procedures should be employed. It should be sufficient to state that an officer may take any and all reasonable steps necessary to protect himself and others when he has reason to believe, in the context of felony or any other vehicle stops, that his or another person's life or safety is in danger. It should be remembered, for example, that motor vehicle passengers who are known or believed to be dangerous may be treated the same as the driver to include requiring that they exit the vehicle and submit to a pat -down search. In accordance with this directive, it is essential that officers be adequately trained to recognize suspicious circumstan- ces during their encounters with motorists. To illustrate, an officer's suspicions may be prompted by the appearance or the behavior of the vehicle or driver, an altered or obscure license plate, indicating a possible attempt to conceal the vehicle's identity and ownership; and/or an extremely dirty tag on a clean automobile, or the reverse of this, indicating that the tags may have been recently transferred from one vehicle to another. None of these factors alone provides reasonable grounds for initiating a vehicle stop or concluding that a crime has been committed. However, when the behavior and appearance of the vehicle operator and/or occupants is incorporated with other factors and grounds exist to make a stop, the totality of the circumstances may lead a trained officer to reasonably conclude that a greater degree of caution should be taken. This knowledge is essential for an officer to properly identify the degree of risk involved and, in the event of post -incident review proceedings, to justify the actions that were taken by the officers. As with other vehicle stops, the first step in planning a high -risk vehicle stop is to contact communications and provide information concerning the reason for the stop; the vehicle license number, a description of the vehicle, including the make, model, color and any other unusual identifying characteristics; number and description of the occupants; direction and speed of travel; and the amount of assistance required. Normally, a lone officer should not initiate a high - risk vehicle stop, particularly when more than one suspect is within the vehicle. However, in circumstances where failure to act in a timely manner would allow a dangerous offender to escape and create an unaccep- table risk to the community, action by the officer would be warranted and necessary. A lone officer, may also need to act quickly in order to avoid or minimize the potential danger to himself or others. -Additionally, in most rural environments, backup officers can be far from the scene of the stop and unavailable ito provide assistance in a reasonable amount of tints'. As an alternative to conducting a vehicle stop alone, an officer may choose to follow the suspect vehicle while relaying the course of travel and other information to;�ommun- ications in order to coordinate a stop 1. Site Selection. It is important io select -an appro- priate site for conducting a high -risk vehicle stop. Safety issues relating to protection from the flow of traffic also come into play, particularly when recognizing that some space will be required to safely remove suspects from the vehicle and to conduct the search and arrest. In addition, one must be aware of the risks associated with conducting high -risk stops where sympathizers or even the overly curious may make the stop particularly dangerous. For example, in some high -crime inner city areas it may be inadvisable to conduct high -risk stops near common gathering places such as parks and playgrounds during warm weather, near nightclubs or other drinking establishments, fast-food eateries or other locations where pedestrian traffic could intervene or interfere. In particular, should deadly force become necessary, errant rounds could prove fatal to innocent bystanders. Whenever possible, officers should also attempt to make high -risk stops where cover is not readily available to assist the suspect in launching an attack or attempting an escape. 2. Vehicle Positioning. Positioning of vehicles is a critical issue in conducting high -risk stops and should be the focus of refresher training so that all officers will fully understand their roles under various circum- stances. Too many officers on the scene who do not adequately understand where they should be and how they should position themselves can create as much danger as the lack of adequate personnel. This can only be controlled and coordinated through training under a variety of situations. There are several schools of thought regarding positioning of patrol vehicles during high -risk vehicle stops. In addition, the circumstances of the stop —such as the position and nature of the suspect vehicle, the number of suspects involved and the area and terrain in which the vehicle is stopped —will dictate the position of primary and backup vehicles. However, under the proper circumstances good patrol vehicle positioning will meet several basic officer survival requirements: (1) it will provide separate cover positions for each officer, all of whom have a clear, well -lit view of the suspect vehicle; (2) offer clear lines of fire that cover the suspect vehicle and the perimeter; and (3) allow officers to move safely between positions and provide an area in which to efficiently conduct arrest and search procedures of prisoners. While there must be some flexibility in high -risk vehicle stop procedures to accommodate varied conditions, the following is considered a solid approach that is suitable for most incidents and one that may be adapted easily to accommodate unusual situations. The procedures discussed here relate to a stop conducted on the right-hand side of the roadway. When preparing to stop, officers should be ready to exit their vehicle quickly once in position, as this is one of the most hazardous points during high -risk stops. Just prior to the stop, officers should ensure that they will have immediate access to such equipment as the shotgun and radio if these are going to be necessary. The primary vehicle that initiated the stop should position the patrol unit no less than 30 feet and preferably 40 feet from the suspect vehicle and may, depending upon the position of the suspect vehicle and highway conditions, turn the patrol unit on an angle to the left. Ideally, three police units should be on the scene of a high -risk vehicle stop (see illustration on page 9). A single officer may make the initial stop if circumstances dictate but should contain the suspects in the vehicle until adequate backup is on the scene to assist in the extraction of the suspects. The secondary unit should drive to a position to the rear of and parallel to the primary unit. If the primary unit is angled, the secondary unit should also be angled so that the driver's door when opened is at the left rear fender of the primary unit. This position will provide the secondary unit officer with excellent cover when exiting his vehicle and the ability to move safely between the primary and secondary units using the vehicles as cover. At this point, the headlights of the primary and secondary units will provide nighttime illumination to the left and right sides of the suspect vehicle while spotlights can be used from both vehicles to further illuminate the suspect vehicle's interior. The third police unit should be driven to a position behind and parallel to the secondary unit or on an angle with the secondary unit as appropriate. This unit should extinguish its lights when in position to avoid blinding the officers in front and silhouetting them to individuals in the suspect vehicle. If a fourth unit is deployed, it should be positioned slightly ahead of and to the left of the primary unit so that the engine block is between the officer and the suspect vehicle. 3. Officer Positions and Responsibilities. In these police unit positions, the primary officer should exit his vehicle through the driver's door and remain in that position through completion of the vehicle stop. The primary officer is responsible for issuing all instructions and commands to suspects in the vehicle but should wait to initiate this activity until all units and personnel are in place. Until that time, the driver should be instructed to turn off the engine and drop the keys outside the vehicle, and all suspects in the vehicle should be instructed to interlock their fingers behind their heads. The primary officer is also initially responsible for communications, but should relinquish that responsi- bility to the first backup officer on the scene so that all his attention can be focused on the suspects. The secondary officer on the scene should assume a position behind the closed passenger door on the right side of his patrol unit by sliding across the front seat and out the door--or-by exiting the driver's door and moving in a crouched position around the rear of his vehicle. This position provides maximum cover by positioning the engine block between the officer and the suspect vehicle and also provides good visual coverage of the right side of the -suspect vehicle. An alternative is for the officer to position hirnself at the left rear wheel of the primary unit. The secondary backup officer should direct the third officer op the scene into position and thereupon turn over respnnsibTties for radio communication and coordination of any other arriving police units to that officer. -This will allow the primary and secondary officers to focus they attention upon the suspect vehicle. The third officer should take a position of cover either at the left rear truck area of the primary unit, if that position is not manned, or with the primary officer. This officer should coordinate any additional responding units to appropriate locations at the stop or to other positions for traffic control. He should also take control of radio communications and assist in searching and securing the suspects as they are removed from the vehicle. 4. Removing Suspects From the Vehicle. The primary officer should be responsible for issuing all commands to the suspects through the patrol unit's public address system, if available. He should first identify himself as a police officer and inform all occupants of the vehicle that they are considered to be armed and dangerous, that all occupants in the vehicle are under arrest and that his instructions to them must be followed without hesitation or suspicious movements. If not already directed to do so, all suspects in the vehicle should be instructed to interlock their hands behind their heads and leave them in that position until told to do otherwise. The primary officer should keep the initial notification and all subsequent instructions as brief as possible using a clear, authoritative voice. When the vehicle contains more than one suspect, each should be removed individually starting with the driver and front passengers, and then the rear seat passengers. Each should be instructed to exit from the nearest door to avoid unnecessary movement and confusion. Beginning with the driver, the primary officer should instruct him to lower his window, if appropriate, then in separate commands to remove the keys from the ignition and drop them out the window. In individual steps thereafter, the suspect should be instructed in the following order to open the door from the outside, step out of the vehicle and raise his arms high above his head, turn completely around slowly and then face away from the officers, walk backward until commanded to stop, and then to lie face down on the pavement. As the suspect turns around, officers should be particularly alert to any hidden weapons. If evident, the suspect should be told that the weapon(s) is visible to the officers and that he should not touch it. The suspect should then be ordered into either a prone or kneeling handcuffing position and immediately restrained while another officer provides cover. Suspects should not be instructed to remove the weapon(s) themselves. These procedures are particularly advisable because they place the officers in a consistent position of advantage but also allow the stop to be completed in a reasonable amount of time. Procedures that become too complicated and take too much time to complete provide suspects with additional time to plot attacks or escapes and possibly secure weapons. Taking suspects into custody in a timely fashion also becomes particularly important when the vehicle stop is being conducted in a potentially hostile neighborhood or when vehicular or pedestrian traffic is a concern. As part of the above procedures, many agencies follow the practice of having the driver and any other suspects in the vehicle leave the car door open when exiting. This allows better visibility for the officers who will later secure the vehicle. In the case of vans and vehicles with heavy window tinting, it is also advisable to instruct the driver to keep the keys in his hand and to open the back and side doors wide before backing him up to be searched and handcuffed. The suspect should be backed up to a point forward and to the left of the police vehicle's bumper so that he will not be able to easily move to the front of the police vehicle in an effort to gain cover. In the prone position, suspects should be instructed to either stretch their arms as far in front of them as possible or behind their back with palms up. When in place in the prone position, the second backup officer should approach the suspect, and then handcuff, search and remove the prisoner to the transportation vehicle. This entire procedure should be used to remove and secure each suspect in turn. Some police agencies follow the practice of removing all suspects before handcuffing, searching and removing them for transportation. However, this practice has some disadvantages. In particular, it places the officer performing the custody search in close proximity to initially unsecured, presumed dangerous and, at this juncture, potentially desperate criminal suspects. Since the officer conducting the search will necessarily have holstered his sidearm, he will be vulnerable to takedown moves that are sometimes practiced by experienced criminals. Also, since the vehicle's interior has not yet been secured, it places the same officer in a position for potential ambush or even capture in spite of the fact that the officer is being covered. After all visible suspects have been removed from the suspect vehicle it should be checked for additional suspects under the "plus one theory," which means that officers should act as though there is one more suspect in the vehicle than is visible. The primary officer should conduct the approach, working around to the front of the vehicle in a wide arc. Any suspect in hiding would normally expect to see the officer approach from the rear and would position himself accordingly. This approach allows the suspect to be seen more easily from the front of the vehicle. Initially, the officer may issue a bluff command such as, "You, hiding in the car, step out with your hands up." If available, a canine may also be deployed to alert or to force any suspects out of hiding. The trunk should be unlocked with the officer low and as far to the side of the vehicle as possible. Once checked, it should be shut in order not to restrict visibility and cover by fellow officers. If the doors of the vehicle have been left open, the officer may choose to search the vehicle by flanking it wide to observe the interior. If a suspect is hiding inside, this will give the officer an advantage by increasing the element of surprise and reducing his vulnerability to fire. Aker all suspects have been removed from the vehicle and the vehicle cleared, the primaryofficer may: proceed to the police station for booking and —interviews. The officers at the scene should be responsible for searching and impounding the vehicle according to ,applicable state and federal law and departmental procedure. i F. Stopping Oversize and Overweight; Vehicles Many of the principles advocated for the stop of passenger vehicles also pertain to st wing oversize and overweight vehicles such as tractor-trailers-er buses. However, there are special considerations involved in stopping these larger vehicles. With the increased volume of thefts of oversize vehicles and the increased use of these vehicles for the transportation of contra- band, law enforcement officers will be increasingly required to make a greater number of these types of vehicle stops. Selection of a suitable location to conduct oversize/ overweight vehicle stops is of particular importance. The officer must plan his stop to allow the vehicle operator sufficient time and distance to make the stop safely. The officer should select an appropriate paved or solid shoulder to accommodate the weight of the vehicle and its added size. If an officer's vehicle is equipped with a citizens' band radio it is often best to contact the vehicle operator and guide him to an appropriate location. Whenever possible, officers should avoid stopping oversize/overweight vehicles on commercial or private property, as many asphalt or even concrete parking lots are not sufficient to support the weight of tractor -trailers without sustaining damage. As with all vehicle stops, the officer should contact communications prior to the stop and provide infor- mation on the vehicle, location, license, occupants' direction of travel and reason for the stop. When stopping buses or tractor trailers, officers should always request a backup. During daylight hours, the officer's vehicle should be offset at an angle to the rear of the vehicle and at night the patrol vehicle should be parallel with and offset to the left in order to provide light down the side of the truck. The backup officer's vehicle should be positioned to provide light down the length of the passenger side of the trailer. When stopping a bus, officers should be mindful that most bus doors are on the right side, thus generally necessitating a vehicle position that will provide light down the full length of that side. Whenever stopping buses, particularly customized noncommercial models, officers should be particularly aware of danger from the rear door and side windows. When conducting a stop of a tractor -trailer, officers should be aware of both the safe and danger areas of the vehicle. The safe areas are those places that provide an officer with cover from gunfire, such as behind wheels, or an avenue of escape, such as rolling under the trailer to the other side. Once forward of the trailer, an officer becomes far more vulnerable as most of the safe areas are eliminated by the drive wheels and the fuel tank. Therefore, it is normally safest to request that the driver exit the cab and walk to the rear of the trailer. This can be accomplished by use of a citizens' band radio, public address system or through hand signals. Using this procedure, the officer should instruct the operator to bring all appropriate documentation with him. He should also be instructed to turn off the engine and to shut the cab's door when exiting. A closed cab door removes a potential traffic hazard and provides the officer with advance notice should someone else in the cab attempt to exit. By meeting the vehicle operator at the rear of the trailer, the officer will also remove the "high ground" advantage that the driver would have if he were allowed to remain in the cab. Should the officer elect to approach the cab, he should check under the trailer to ensure that someone has not exited on the passenger's side in an attempt to circle around. The officer should also check the rear cargo doors to ensure that they are closed. At night, it is advisable to shine the vehicle's spotlight and/or a flashlight in the vehicle's mirror to provide better visibility into the cab and protect the officer's approach by restricting the driver's visibility. The officer should stop at the front end of the trailer, check in the open area between the cab and the trailer and look through the window in the rear of the cab, if available. Officers who make these type of approaches should be aware that at this point they have few safe areas and are at a distinct disadvantage to the driver on the higher ground. The officer should stop just behind the rear edge of the door, a position that will require the driver to turn to see and talk to the officer. He should also instruct the driver not to open the door unless told to do so and to turn off the engine. An officer should never climb onto the cab as he will be off balance and may easily be knocked to the ground. Once the driver has been removed from the cab, he should not be allowed to return without the officer present. As with passenger vehicle stops, it is not recommended that violators be allowed to sit in the patrol vehicle while the citation is being written. Rather, the violator should remain on the curbside of the trailer so that the officer can maintain visual and voice contact with him while the officer is seated on the passenger side of the patrol vehicle. From this position, the officer may easily maintain contact at some distance with the violator while completing the citation. The officer also has ready access to the radio, is unencumbered by the patrol unit's steering wheel and may exit the vehicle rapidly if necessary without fear of traffic. In felony stops involving overweight/oversize vehicles, additional planning is essential. Backup assistance in these cases is always needed, and officers should not attempt to make a stop until adequate backup is in position. Primarily because of the size of the vehicle involved, traffic control must be assigned to stop approaching vehicles from each direction. The proce- dures for effecting an arrest under these circumstances is essentially the same as that involved with passenger vehicles. However, during a nighttime felony stop involving these larger vehicles, the command vehicle or a backup should be positioned so that it may utilize its headlights and spotlight to fully illuminate the cab. Depending upon the circumstances of the stop, an officer may be required to enter the trailer to inspect the cargo. Prior to doing so, he should request a backup officer, if one is not already present, to watch any passengers during the inspection. Endnotes 'Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Edwards, 355 PA $§er. 31Y"513 A.2d 445(1986). 2Delmare v. Prouse, 440 U.S. 648, 99 S.Ct. 1391 (1979). This project caws supported by Grant No. 87-SN-CX-KQ77 mounted 6y the Bureau JJusfice Assistance, Office a( Jusfice Programs, U.S: _Department of lushre. The assistant Attomry Grnnal, 0% ue o ushce ProBrmlrf, coordinafes-tlre activities o/ the followin program offices and bureaus: the Bureau of fusticrAssisfance, the Bureau of �ustice Statistics, National Instoule of Justice, Office of Juvenile and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office of Victims of Crime. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not represent the official position or policies of the United States Department of Justice. E effort has been made by the IACP National law Enforcement Policy Cmfm staff and advisory hoard to ensure that this model policy incorporates the most cumen in ormafian and rontemporary professional judgmrnf on this issue Houxuer �eu rnforcemmf admimstramrs should be rauhonM that no "model" policy can meet all the needs of any given law en/orremrnf agency. Each law enforcement agencryy operates in a unyue environment of feieral rourf rulings, state Iawy Ixal ordinanm, regulations, judicial and admmtstmfhx decisions and callalive hargainin$ agreements that must be considmed. In addition, the tonnulafion of spec/ic agency policies must take into attnunt local political and community perspectrues and customs, prerogathxs and demands; often divrrgrnf law enforcement sbafegies and philosophies, and fhe impact of varied agency resource capabilities among other Jacfors. High -Risk Traffic Stop Unknown Risk Traffic Stop Distributed by Capt Johnson - ICPD OPS-11.1 TRAFFIC Date of Issue General Order Number July 30 1999 99-07 c C.A.L.E.A. Chapter 61 INDEX AS: Arrests Traffic Enforcement Parking Enforcement Alcohol Enforcement Traffic Stops Citations Traffic Exemptions I. PURPOSE The ultimate goal of traffic enforcement is to reduce the number and severity of vehicle crashes. Motor vehicle crashes continue to be a health and safety issue facing our community; these crashes can result in significant injuries and death to persons of all ages, along with a significant amount of property damage. Creating a safe motoring community can be achieved through education to citizens, liaisons and partnerships with other agencies within the community to promote safe driving, and preventative patrol combined with aggressive enforcement by officers. 11. POLICY It is the policy of the Iowa City Police Department that motor vehicle stops will be performed professionally and courteously, and with a view towards educating the public about proper driving procedures while consistently recognizing and taking the necessary steps to minimize the dangers involved in this activity for the officer, the motorist and other users of the roadway. It is the purpose of the Iowa City Police Department to establish guidelines for stopping and approaching motorists in a manner that promotes the safety of the officer and motorist. OPS-11.2 III. PROCEDURES The Iowa City Police Department does not use a "quota" system for the evaluation of an officer's traffic enforcement activities. The officer is expected to take those steps necessary to obtain compliance with traffic laws and will determine the appropriate action when dealing with violators. The emphasis will be on qualitative not quantitative enforcement activities. When deciding on the appropriate enforcement action officers should consider the seriousness of the violation and the circumstances surrounding the violation. In instances where the violation is a simple misdemeanor officers may opt to warn or cite the violator. In deciding to arrest a person for a "citeable" offense the officer should have an articulable reason for this action. Warnings may either be verbal or written in nature. In instances where the offense is a serious misdemeanor or higher, officers should take the violator into physical custody. Arrests of all types should conform with departmental requirements pertaining to arrests. When a traffic citation is issued, the officer shall request the incident number for the stop and write the incident number on the citation. When an incident is such that a case number is required,(no longer necessary) the officer(s) involved shall include the case number on all related charges and related documentation. While engaged in traffic enforcement, officers may encounter persons. who are at times granted exemptions to laws. When encountering these situations officers may follow the guidelines in Appendix I, or if still unsure of the appropriate action, should contact a watch supervisor for further guidance. Enforcement of Traffic Laws All officers are responsible for maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of Iowa traffic laws and local ordinances. Consistency is an essential _part of any traffic enforcement program. The guidelines in Appendix 11 id�e to "sist officers in deciding what type(s) of action to take when encountering these situations. These guidelines will assist officers in taking fair, appropriate, and consistent enforcement action. Enforcement Techniques The Iowa City Police Department utilizes varied and diversified techniques in traffic law enforcement. Many variables must be considered when evaluating tactics to be used on a specific problem. It will be the responsibility of the officer, in consultation with the watch supervisor, to determine the tactics to be used. The tactics or techniques that may be used include but are not limited to: 1. Visible traffic observation. Stationary observation in which the observer officer is in full view but so located as to require effort on the part of traffic to discover the observer. 2. Concealed traffic observation. Stationary observation in which the observer is not visible to persons using ordinary powers of observation from the roadway. OPS-11.3 3. Conspicuous traffic observation. Stationary observation in which the observer is positioned in such a way as to "attract' attention by keeping in full view of traffic. MWE w N �hk OPS-11.4 4. Area traffic control. Moving or stationary patrol observation in an area which includes a particular number of streets, roads or sections of highways. 5. Line traffic patrol. Moving or stationary observation on a specified route between two points, usually on one street or section of highway. Directed enforcement will be determined on a "as needed" or "as available" basis. Directed patrol may be used for a specific violation identified in a particular area or at a specific time, or in response to an anticipated traffic pattern for a particular event. Directed patrol also includes the tactic of "Saturation" patrol in a specific area for either a specific violation(s) or for all violations. The watch supervisor has authority to determine the type and number of vehicles to be used for a specific type of traffic patrol. The use of an unmarked vehicle for traffic patrol will be used only upon authorization of the watch supervisor. The Iowa City Police Department will only use equipment which meets or exceeds requirements of the FCC and/or the NHTSA. Officers may use only those speed measuring devices approved by the department and in which the individual officer has been trained, and where applicable, certified. Said training will include instruction on the set up, testing, operational use and reading of the device. Officers shall set up and use speed -measuring devices in a manner which is consistent with their training and the manufacturer's specifications. All training will meet or exceed the requirements of the NHTSA. Prior to the use of a speed -measuring device the officer shall check the equipment according to the manufacturers specifications. If any discrepancy exists the officer shall not use the equipment. The officer shall make note of the problem and forward an equipment repair sheet to the watch supervisor. It is the responsibility of all officers to see that attached speed measuring devices are properly cared for. The Captain(Commander) of Field Operations or his/her designee will see that all equipment is maintained according to manufacturers specifications and will maintain the records for the duration of the lifetime of the speed measuring device with the department plus two years. The sergeant in charge of vehicle inspections or his/her designee will periodically check to see that all speed measuring units or video -recording units are operational and have been properly, -maintained. The inspection sheet will be forwarded to the Captain(Commander) of Field Operations. ALCOHOL ENFORCEMENT G' The Iowa City Police Department will create special enforcement programs aimed at the enforcement of Operating While Intoxicated laws. These-' programs may be in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies within the area. In an effort to minimize the damage done by drivers wtfd are intoxicated or drugged, the Iowa City Police Department places a high priority on the training of officers in the detection and apprehension of intoxicated or drugged drivers. The department will actively pursue state and federal grants OPS-11.6 pertaining to alcohol enforcement. The Department may also use directed patrol in areas or engage in roadblocks for the identification of intoxicated or drugged drivers. When available, an officer is to be assigned to the traffic function for each watch. This assignment is to concentrate on, but not limited to; speed violations, child restraint violations, seat belts(violations) and OWI enforcement. All officers, whether on general patrol or directed enforcement duties, should be alert for driving behavior which may indicate that a driver is operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated or on drugs. When such an observation is noted the officer should: 1. note unsafe or erratic driving but should not let it continue so as to endanger the public or the operator of the vehicle. Officers should attempt to stop the vehicle in an area that will not interfere with or endanger traffic; 2. prior to the initiation of field sobriety tests, note the demeanor, actions and signs of intoxication. These indicators should be noted in the OWI packet; 3. attempt to administer field sobriety tests on all drivers suspected of driving while impaired. The information gathered during the administration of these tests should be recorded in the OWI packet. Field sobriety tests should include but are not limited to: HGN, Walk and Turn and One leg stand. The administration of a Preliminary Breath Test should be done at the completion of the field sobriety tests; 4. if the operator refuses to submit to field sobriety tests, or is impaired to the point it is unsafe to administer the tests, or is otherwise unable to perform the tests, base the decision of whether to take the person into custody on other observations of the operator's condition. This may include the statement of witnesses if applicable. If the person refuses to submit to preliminary breath test they may be transported to the police department for further testing. If based on the officer's observation of the operator and the circumstances surrounding the incident the officer believes the person is intoxicated, the person may be arrested for suspicion of Operating While Intoxicated; 5. if the person is arrested for suspicion of OWI, a search of the person and vehicle maybe made subsequent to arrest. The vehicle may be either parked, towed, or turned over to a sober driver; at the officer's discretion and depending on the circumstances. 6. The administration of Implied Consent, and the breath or other chemical test, shall be pursuant to state code, guidelines from the Department of Transportation, and Department of Criminal Investigation. In instances where the operator of the vehicle is involved in a crash resulting in death or serious injury and the operator refuses to provide a specimen for chemical testing, contact the on -call County Attomey for assistance. In instances where the operator is unable to consent or refuse, use the request for chemical test forms pertaining to intoxicated drivers; :' J i OPS-11.6 7. In instances where the officer believes the operator is impaired but chemical testing indicates a BAC of less than .10, the officer may contact a departmental Drug Recognition Expert for testing. If a DRE is not available, officers should consult with a watch supervisor to determine whether to call a DRE; 8. In instances where the operator of a vehicle is under 21 years of age and there are indications that their BAC is in excess of .02, transport the person to the police department for administration of chemical testing. If the result is in excess of .02 but less than .10 follow Department of Transportation guidelines pertaining to .02 revocations. PARKING ENFORCEMENT Officers or Community Service Officers will respond to parking calls as available. All officers are responsible for enforcement of parking violations when brought to their attention or observed. Officers will be responsible for the enforcement of parking regulations on city streets and alleys. The parking department has enforcement responsibilities for overtime parking. When called to a private property parking call, the officer or community service officer will make a determination if the complainant has the authority to request a vehicle be ticketed or impounded. When a vehicle is to be impounded, the officer shall follow departmental directives pertaining to vehicle impounds. R. J. Winkelhake, Chief of Police WARNING This directive is for departmental use only and does not apply in any criminal or civil proceeding. The department policy should not be construed as a creation of a higher legal standard of safety or care in an evidentiary sense with respect to third -party claims. Violations of this directive will only form the basis for departmental administrative sanctions. Co N OPS-11.7 DRAFT APPENDIX I While engaged in traffic enforcement, officers may encounter persons who are at times granted exemptions to laws. When encountering these situations officers may follow these guidelines or if still unsure of the appropriate action, should contact a watch supervisor for further guidance. Legislators are granted limited immunity from prosecution under Chapter 3 of the Iowa Constitution which states "Privileged from arrest. SEC. 11. Senators and representatives, in all cases, except treason, felony, or breach of the peace, shall be privileged from arrest during the session of the general assembly, and in going to and returning from the same." Members of the National Guard are regulated under chapter 29A.41 of the code of Iowa. The code states," A member of the national guard shall not be arrested, or served with a summons, order, warrant or other civil process after having been ordered to any duty, or while going to, attending, or returning from, any place to which the officer or enlisted person is required to go for military duty. This section does not prevent the officer's or enlisted person's arrest by order of a military officer or for a felony or breach of the peace committed while not in the actual performance of the officer's or enlisted person's duty." Other members of the military, including members of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and reservists who are on active duties are likewise granted limited protection. When an occasion arises that requires the issuance of a traffic citation, a physical arrest or investigation of a motor vehicle crash involving a member of the armed services, the officer will notify a watch supervisor of the circumstance surrounding the incident. The watch supervisor will contact the office of the commanding officer of the military member involved and advise them of the incident. Foreign diplomats and consular officials may be granted immunity. In these cases the officer should advise the person of the nature of the stop and make a determination as to if the person is able to safely continue on their way. In instances where the ability of the operator of the vehicle is in doubt the officer should take steps to insure the person safely gets to their destination. These steps may include but are not limited to; locating another driver, contacting a cab, or contacting the consulate of the person involved or the United States Department of State for further assistance. Foreign nationals are subject to the laws of the State of Iowa, however there may be consular notification requirements. If a foreign national is stopped for a traffic violation, or is involved in a motor vehicle crash which requires no special investigation, there are no notification requirements. If a foreign national is physically arrested or detained for a substantial period of time there may be notification requirements. In these circumstances, refer to the Consular Not cation and Access booklet in the watch commander's office for guidance. OPS-11.8 DR. AFC' APPENDIX I (continued) Juveniles may be issued citations for traffic violations without notification of their parents. In instances where a juvenile is being taken into custody the applicable juvenile procedures should be followed. If a juvenile is arrested for OWI, the officer shall attempt to contact the parent(s) or other responsible adult prior to initiating Implied Consent. Non Iowa residents will be treated the same as Iowa residents with regard to the issuance of traffic citations. In instances where an officer has an articulable reason for believing that a person is unlikely to appear for the scheduled court appearance, the officer may require that a cash bond be posted or the person may be taken before the nearest magistrate for arraignment. The Iowa City Police Department encourages the practice of cite and release whenever possible. OPS-11.9 APPENDIX II DRAFT Enforcement of Traffic Laws All officers are responsible for maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of Iowa traffic laws and local ordinances. Consistency is an essential part of any traffic enforcement program. The following guidelines are to assist officers in deciding what type(s) of action to take when encountering these situations. These guidelines will assist officers in taking fair, appropriate, and consistent enforcement action. Operating While Intoxicated: Recognizing that intoxicated individuals who choose to operate a motor vehicle pose a significant threat to the safety of themselves and others in Iowa City, the Iowa City Police Department will strictly enforce violations when a person operates a vehicle while intoxicated or drugged. Officers are also encouraged to strictly enforce Iowa's .02 Zero tolerance law pertaining to underage drinking and driving. 2. Operating while suspended, revoked, or barred. Operating a motor vehicle while a license is suspended, revoked or barred shows a disregard for the law and members of this department will enforce all such violations. Upon confirmation from DOT of the suspension, revocation or barment, officers are to file the applicable charge. Officers should check for the registered owner of the vehicle being operated by the subject, and if the operator is listed as a registered owner, the officer should check to see if the operator is eligible to have vehicles registered in his/her name. If the operator is not so entitled, pursuant to Iowa law the officer shall take custody of the license plates and, if available, the registration and, drivers license and send them to the Department of Transportation. Officers should also check for any unnerved suspensions on the operator and, if present, serve such suspension on the operator. 3. Speed enforcement. A driver who operates a vehicle in disregard for the posted speed limit is one who can and does cause a large number of motor vehicle crashes. Officers of the Iowa City Police Department are to take enforcement action when speed violations are observed. Since the stopping distance of a vehicle is directly related to its speed, particular efforts should be made in and around areas which have significant numbers of children. 4. Hazardous violations. There are many violations of the traffic code that may be considered hazardous. These violations are those that could, under the right circumstances, result in a vehicle crash. Some types of violations considered hazardous are disregard of a traffic control device, failure to yield, reckless driving, and improper lane change/usage. Since the before mentioned violations are involved in large number of the motor vehicle crashes in Iowa City officers are expected to take aggressive action when these violations occur. " �o T APPENDIX II (continued) OPS-11.10 5. Off -Road vehicle violations. Members of this department will take appropriate action when they observe illegal on -road use of an off road vehicle. This includes, but is not limited to, enforcement of equipment, registration and licensing requirements. In instances where a vehicle is being operated off the roadway, officers need to determine if the operation is on property where the operator is entitled to be. If the vehicle is operated on private property without the permission of the controlling party, the officer may pursue appropriate criminal charges. In instances where the vehicle is being operated on public property, the officer will make a determination as to if the particular area allows the operation of motorized vehicles. 6. Vehicles operated on private property. When a vehicle is being operated on private property with the permission of the controlling party, the officer may enforce the OWI, reckless driving and accident reporting sections of the Iowa code. 7. Equipment violations. In order for a vehicle to be safely operated on a roadway it must be equipped pursuant to state code. In many cases, the operator of a vehicle may not be aware that a piece of equipment is not operating, i.e., taillight, brake light. A warning by an officer may be all that is required to insure the defect is corrected. In those situations where a motorist is aware of a problem and has failed to correct it in a reasonable amount of time, or the violation is such that it could result in a crash, other action may be required: i.e. citation, or parking of the vehicle. 8. Commercial vehicle violations. All public and commercial vehicle regulations will be enforced; however, the officer's discretion, training and knowledge will determine the action to be taken for violations of public and/or commercial vehicle regulations. The officer may call a department member trained in commercial motor vehicles or contact the Iowa Department of Transportation for assistance. In all instances where a commercial carrier is involved in a motor vehicle crash involving serious personal injury or death, the officer should contact a trained commercial vehicle inspector for assistance in the investigation. 9. Less -Hazardous violations. The officer should take notice of less serious violations and may make contact with the violator. The circumstances surrounding the violation should be taken into consideration when determining the enforcement action to be taken. 10. Multiple violations. While the "stacking" of violations is not encoyraged,' the circumstances and seriousness of the violations should guide the offic4i in deciding the appropriate enforcement action. - --, OPS-11.11 ...::.......: APPENDIX 11 (continued) 11. Newly enacted laws and/or regulations. When newly enacted laws or regulations are passed and become applicable to the motoring public, the enforcement guidelines prescribed in the text of the new law will be followed. The enforcement date of new laws/regulations will be determined by the Chief of Police or his/her designee in consultation with the city or county attorney. 12.Enforcement guidelines for motor vehicle crashes. Officers will take enforcement action when their motor vehicle crash investigation or reporting activities provide probable cause to believe that a law or ordinance has been violated. If a citation is not issued, the officer may be required to justify his/her action. 13. Pedestrian and bicycle violations. Officers should use discretion and take appropriate enforcement action for violations committed by pedestrians and bicycles on public property. Consideration should be given to the age of the violator and the seriousness, location, and time of day of the violation. 14. When a officer encounters an operator whom he/she feels should be referred to the Department of Transportation for re examination, the officer shall complete an incident report pertaining to the incident. The report shall contain the circumstances surrounding the incident, including time of day, weather and street conditions, and the operator's information. The report shall also include the reason(s) why the officer believes the person should be re-examined. The report along with the DOT driver's referral form should be submitted to the watch supervisor for review prior to submission to DOT. (note: age alone is not a reason for re-examination) Distributed by Capt Johnson - ICPD A T Iowa City Police Department Standard Operating Guideline SOG #: Effective date: Subject: Traffic Stops Reference: Traffic, High -risk Traffic Stops, Citations, Section: OPS Command Signature: Purpose: Although stopping a motorist on the highway for traffic violations or other purposes is often considered a routine function of patrol officer, it is one that has been demonstrated to be potentially dangerous for both the officer and motorist even during apparently "routine" situations. Therefore, it is the policy of the Iowa City Police Department that motor vehicle stops shall be performed professionally and courteously, and with a view towards educating the public about proper driving procedures while consistently recognizing and taking the necessary steps to minimize the dangers involved in this activity for the officer, the motorist and others users of the roadway. It is the policy of the Iowa City Police Department to establish guidelines for stopping and approaching motorists in a manner that promotes the safety of the officer and the motorist. Deflnitions: c� - Procedures: TRAFFIC STOPS 1>-- STOPPING AND APPROACHING TRAFFIC VIOLATOR ' The following procedures should be followed whenever possible. It is recognized that varying conditions such as roadway construction, volume of traffic and the urgency of making the stops may require officers to adjust these procedures to particular conditions. I. Officers shall perform vehicle stops only when they have an articulable reason to do so. 2. Once an initial decision has been made to stop a motorist, the officer should select an area that provides reasonable safety, avoiding curves, hills, heavily trafficked or poorly lit areas and roads without shoulders. 3. Whenever possible, the officer shall also avoid the use of private drives, business locations and areas where a large volume of spectators is likely to gather. 4. When a location has been selected for the stop, the officer shall notify communications of its nature, providing the location of the stop and the license plate number of the vehicle. The officer may include the number of occupants. In instances where a plate is not visible, the officers) should give a description of the vehicle being stopped. At the officer's discretion or dispatcher's request, additional information may be exchanged. 5. At the desired location, the officer should signal the operator to stop at the far right side of the roadway or at the safest shoulder by activating the emergency lights and/or siren as necessary. a. On multilane roads, the officer may facilitate movement to the right shoulder by gradually changing lanes behind the violator until the right side of the roadway is reached. b. Should the violator stop abruptly in the wrong lane or location, *,officer should instruct him/her to move by using the appropriate hand signals or by activating the vehicle's public address system. lv� 6. Once properly stopped, the officer should position the police vehicle about one- half to one and one-half car length behind the violator's vehicle and _'at a slight angle, with the front approximately 2 feet to the traffic side of the violaor's vehicle. a. At night, the spotlight should not be used to direct the violator off the roadway, but may be used to illuminate the vehicle's interior once stopped. The patrol vehicle should use its low beams as high beams may blind oncoming motorists. 7. When exiting the patrol vehicle, the officer should be particularly alert to suspicious movements or actions of the vehicle operator or passengers. 8. Approaching from the driver's side, the officer should be observant of the trunk and passenger compartments, and stop at a point to the rear of the trailing edge of the left front door in order to communicate with the driver. a. Where circumstances dictate, particularly where traffic is close enough to create a potential problem, the officer may choose to approach the violators vehicle from the right-hand side and stop at the trailing edge of the right front door. b. When the violator's vehicle has occupants in the rear seat, the officer should approach to a point near the leading edge of the front door, being particularly observant of occupant movements and choosing a path that will not allow the occupants to thrust the door open against the officer. c. In two -officer police vehicles, the passenger officer should be responsible for radio communications, note taking and relaying messages to the communications center. He/She will also act as an observer and cover for his/her fellow officer. (note: this does not apply to training cars with an FTO which are to be considered one officer cars) 9. Non -uniformed officers operating an unmarked patrol vehicle with concealed emergency lights and siren may make vehicle stops if the stop is consistent with the officer's assignment. i.e. Officers assigned to address special concerns in an area in which the use of an unmarked vehicle is determined to be useful. Prior to the initiation of a traffic slop, when circumstances allow, officers in unmarked vehicles should check for the availability of a marked unit in the vicinity. If available, the marked unit should initiate the stop. Officers operating unmarked patrol cars must recognize that persons failing to stop for them may be doing so due to legitimate concerns for their safety. Persons may legitimately continue to a lighted area with traffic prior to stopping for an unmarked vehicle. 10. Non -uniformed officers operating vehicles not equipped with emergency lights or siren shall not make motor vehicle stops unless there is an imminent danger of loss of life should they fail to act. In other less urgent cases that demand attention, officers shall contact the communications center, request that a marked patrol vehicle perform the stop, and assist in directing the marked ;unit to the subject vehicle's location. - ISSUING CITATIONS Enforcement action incidental to traffic law violations will be carried out by vamirigs (written or verbal), written citation(s), or physical arrest. A large number of citations br arrests is not the purpose or emphasis for conducting traffic stops. No system emphasizing quantitative enforcement, i.e. ticket quotas, shall be utilized. Physical arrests should be utilized for serious offenses such as OWI, eluding, assault with a motor vehicle, or other offenses which constitute a serious misdemeanor or above. In incidents where an officer elects to take a person into physical custody in lieu of issuing a citation, the decision to arrest should be based on sound legal principals(principles). When a person commits a "minor"(less serious) violation the officer has the discretion to decide if the operator should given a warning or citation. In cases of non -hazardous or inadvertent moving violations or equipment violations, officers may elect to issue a verbal or written warning to the violator. During the traffic stop officers should greet the violator in a courteous manner, explain the reason for the stop and request the drivers license and other documentation as determined by the officer. The officer should request that the operator remove the drivers' license from their wallet or purse. When taking the license, it should be taken in the officer's weak hand. 1. When issuing citations, conducting roadside sobriety tests or conversing with the violator, the officer and other parties should be positioned to the side of the road, clear of passing motor vehicles. 2. During the stop, the violator should remain in his/her motor vehicle while the officer writes the citation or conducts other business. Under normal circumstances, violators should not be permitted to sit in patrol vehicle while citations are being prepared or other police business is being conducted. 3. When preparing citations, the officer should position paperwork and related materials in a manner that allows hirnlher to maintain vantage over actions of the violator and other occupants. 4. Upon deciding to issue a citation, the officer should advise the violator of the following: a. That a citation(s) will be issued, the violation(s) for which it is being issued, and the fine amount imposed if scheduled. b. Explain the methods of responding to the citation, i.e., mandatory court appearance or pay the scheduled fine or appear in court to co ptest the charge. , c. Explain the unsecured bond amount and purpose. v� d. Make sure the violator is aware of the scheduled court date. e. Request the violator sign the citation, explaining that signing of the_dtatiorris not an admission of guilt. �a f. If the violator signs the citation, provide copies of the citation to the violator and suggest they read both sides of the citation. If the violator refuses to sign the citation, the violator shall be advised that failure to sign will result in a physical arrest being made. Upon continued refusal to sign, the violator may be physically arrested. An officer may issue a citation when he/she believes a violation was hazardous, intentional, or believes a citation is necessary to achieve voluntary compliance with the law. STOPPING AN APPROACHING MOTORIST In cases where a motorist in oncoming traffic must be stopped, the following actions may be taken: 1. Drive the police vehicle to the extreme right portion of the roadway and as the violator approaches signal hirn/her to stop by using hand signals and/or emergency lights. 2. Because of the potential hazard involved, an officer should not leave his/her vehicle when attempting to stop traffic violators in oncoming lanes. 3. If the subject motorist complies with the instructions, the police vehicle may then be turned around and appropriately positioned to the rear of the violator's vehicle. 4. Should the motorist fail to comply with the officer's instructions, the officer should turn the police vehicle around and pursue, stop and approach the violator in the prescribed manner. STOPPING A FOLLOWING VIOLATOR U_ When stopping a motorist to the rear of the police vehicle, the following procedures may be followed: 1. The officer should drive to the right shoulder of the road and, as -t ie violas or approaches, signal him/her to stop by using hand signals and/or emergency lights. 2. The officer should not exit his/her vehicle in order to signal the subject motorist. 3. Should the motorist fail to comply, the officer should return to the roadway, pursue, stop and approach himther in the prescribed manner. HIGH -RISK VEHICLE STOPS The following procedures may be employed when an officer initiating a vehicle stop has reason to believe that an occupant may be armed or dangerous: 1. When planning to perform a high -risk stop on a suspect vehicle, the officer shall notify the communications center, giving location, vehicle information, nature or reason for the stop, and number of occupants visible in the vehicle and request appropriate assistance. 2. An officer should not individually initiate a high -risk vehicle stop unless back-up units will not be available in an appropriate amount of time or the urgency of the situation demands immediate action. In these cases the initiating officer should not attempt removal of the suspects without assistance. 3. After selecting an appropriate location and with adequate support units in position, the officer should signal the suspect vehicle to stop. er A 4. The initiating officer should position their vehicle to the left of the suspect vehicle and at least 20 feet to the rear of the suspect vehicle. Positioning should be such that it will maximize opportunities for cover and in such a manner as to allow for illumination of the interior of the vehicle and its occupants. 5. The officer initiating the stop, or the officer with the best observation point, should issue verbal commands to the vehicle occupants through the squad cars PA system, if available. 6. Once the suspect vehicle has stopped, officers should exit their vehicles quickly and assume positions of cover. 7. The officer in charge shall first identify himself/hersetf and then notify the occupants that they are considered to be armed and/or dangerous and that all instructions are to be followed without hesitation or suspicious movements. 8. When ordering the occupants of the vehicle from the vehicle, the officer giving the orders should give a separate command for each movement or action required. While the nature and order of the commands may vary, depending on circumstances, the purpose of the commands will be geared to safely taking control of the occupants of the suspect vehicle. Suspects will be ordered from the vehicle one at a time, with instructions directing them towards backup officers, who will secure and confine them. After a subject is secured and confined, another occupant may be directed from the vehicle. 9. When all visible subjects have been removed from the vehicle, and with appropriate cover, two officers may then approach the suspect vehicle to inspect the passenger compartment and trunk, where appropriate. During the approach to the vehicle, officers should have their weapon drawn and focused towards the suspect vehicle. STOPPING OVERSIZE AND OVERWEIGHT VEHICLES 4 In the event that an officer needs to stop commercial and similar oversize or overweight vehicles, the following procedures should be followed: 1. Select a location for the stop that provides enough room for the vehicle tstd sufficient stability to support the vehicle's weight, and allow the operator sufficient time and distance to make the stop. 2. Approach the cab from the rear, using the driver's outside mirror to observe the driver and activity in the cab. 3. Avoid climbing onto the vehicle to make contact with the operator. Maintain a position to the rear of the driver's door and ask the operator to exit the vehicle, if and when necessary. While engaged in traffic enforcement, officers may encounter persons who are at times granted exemptions to laws. When encountering these situations officers may follow the guidelines in Appendix I, of General Order 99-07 Traffic, or if still unsure of the appropriate action, should contact a watch supervisor for further guidance.