How do you handle a stopped vehicle?

[ronin178]

I am in a police academy in New York and last week we started on traffic stops on vehicles. It was good information, however my instructor stated that he used the same "speel" for every stop(adapted for different situations) and that we should develop one. So do any of you have a set way the you handle your stop? For example, do you always ask for the license only to begin with? Do you tell them your name?(as opposed to just your department) How do you hand them back their ticket? Thanks!

[Cobra]

For training, I do the following.

Hello, I'm Officer X with the XX Police Department. How are you today? (Allow time for a response) Good, could you please hand me your license and registration for me sir/mam (hands it to you) thanks. Do you know why I stopped you?

And carry it on from there.

[Switchback]

Well said, DC.

I can't remember ever asking how someone as I clear their house. :D Even on "soft" interviews... Hello, I'm xxxxxx with the U.S. Marshals, may I come in? (as I step in)...

[ronin178]

Thanks DC. Exactly what I was looking for!

[michiganstud]

"Where you going in such a hurry?" "Where you coming from" "Anything in this car I need to know about?" With questions like that, it's not what they say that's important but HOW they say it and how they act when you ask them. Hesitation or a sudden uneasieness indicates that you need to probe further..

I aggree with DC. Refrain from being the counselor police. You aren't being rude by not asking how they are.

Our training has been:
Its Hi, officer XX from XX police, can I see your drivers license, registration and proof of insurance please.

Then as they are digging around in all the piles of crap for everything you watch them, and here is where you ask questions.

I like DC's questions (will use them) If you ask "do you know why I stopped you?" they aren't going to admit there is a body in their trunk or they got crack in their pocket. They are going to 99% of the time say "I don't know". Useless question. Stick with OPEN ENDED questions like: "Where you going in such a hurry?" In my patrol procedure class it was taught that if you ask open ended questions they will admit more because they have to explain something rather than asking "yes or no" questions.

Before you go back to your car to write we say "i stopped you for XX, sit tight i'll be right back with you"

Do you guys think at this point you SHOULD or SHOULD NOT tell them you are issing a ticket?

What about the send off!?!?!? How do you guys do it? Of course I never say "have a nice day". LOL I use "drive safely" or sometimes "have a better day"

*disclaimer* I know i'll get picked on, I only make traffic stops with a certified officer, and if i'm alone its usually handicap parking...but we still have to talk to drivers and get their information.

[DeputyMadMax]

Hehe... Buck Savage.

I try to stick to a routine. I find if I stray from it I forget things, like having them sign the ticket. LOL

I try not to even ask why they were in a hurry, they always use that as an opening for the pity card for me. But I always ask if they know why I stopped them. 99% of them know why their being stopped, I wan't to see if their going to lie or tell me the truth. Plus as DC pointed out, they offer up extra information. Plus if (and most do) admit they were speeding, or ran that red light, etc.. that is on my tape and WILL go to court if they plead not guilty.

If I've made up my mind I'm only going to give them a warning before I walk away from the car, I always tell them. I tell them they are getting a warning, but I'm still going to check to make sure their license is valid. If their getting a ticket I only say that I'll be right back with them.

When clearing a stop, I always tell them to drive safe, and if their wearing their seat belt, I tell them "Thank's for wearing your seatbelt." A lot of times the seatbelt is a deciding factor if someone gets the speeding (etc.) ticket or not. It's a pet peave of mine.

[sbrad]

I have had people give me good "wrong" answers when I';ve asked them why I stopped them.
Uhhh...because these tags don't belong on this car. I know...I was just using them to...."

That is excellent, DC. I've always refrained from the "do you know why I stopped you?" bit and just cut straight to the chase, but I think I'm going to start saying that.

[P01IC3M4N]

i always start with, "hello," then i go into my intro of my name and department. i then ask for ID and insurance. once at least the ID is in hand, i tell them why they were stopped. you should never say "I" in a traffic scenario and you should never ask them if they know why they were stopped. you open it up for argument and when you say "I" you are letting on to the fact that you had something to do with their error.

after i say, "you were stopped for --whatever violation--," i ask, "is there any legal reason for --whatever violation--." since there aren't very many "legal" reasons to break the law, most people no longer feel the need to argue as i've just invalidated whatever alleged emergency they had by making it a "legal reason."

when i return with the citation, i usually tell them, "you are going to be issued a citation for --whatever violation--." then i go into the whole ten working days thing.

i stop roughly 15-20 cars a day. rarely do i go to court and rarely do i get someone willing to argue on the side of the road. it's all in how you present yourself and what means of argument you give the violator. if you leave them no argument, you will get no argument.

[txinvestigator1]

The Texas Department of Public Safety has a standard 8 step violator contact that is designed to minimize the negative public relations and maintain an adult-adult relationship between the LEO and violator.

Adults do not react well when forced into the child role in an adult-child relationship. When a LEO conducts a traffic stop and acts overly authoritive it causes this relationship.

I, unlike Cobra who is a teenage Explorer, was a Police Officer for ten years. I was taught, like most municipal officers, that a LEO must always be in control of any incident. Anytime I was dealing with the public I must be in control. If I asked for a violator's DL, then by-golly I was the boss and they were just going to hand it over with no need for me to offer an explanation.

I often stopped someone and demanded to have the DL and insurance handed over, and when they asked why they were stopped I would tell them AFTER I my orders were complied with. After all, I was in charge.

I rode with a DPS trooper when the new Mustangs came out in the '80's. DPS studied the public reaction and perception of LEO and the effect of traffic stops. For most people, a traffic stop is the ONLY interaction they will have with LE. It is important to realize that these people are, for the most part, adult violators and there is no need to treat them like children or be officious.

The DPS contact goes like this;

1. Greeting. Good morning, good afternoon, etc.

2. Identify yourself. "I am officer Friendly with the Your Town Police Department" In most areas of Texas there are several LE agencies. The ID insures the violator knows who you are and who you represent. it also is the beginning of a process of treating the person as an adult.

3. Advise the person why they were stopped without making it a "you vs them" issue. "You have been stopped for speeding, 70 in a 55." There is no need to hide the reason for the stop, or play a silly guessing game with them by asking them if they know why. The violator should be treated with respect as an adult. Also do not say "I stopped you for speeding". This is NOT about you the officer (parent) catching the violator (child) doing something wrong. It is about their (adult) behavior.

4. Gather the DL and Insurance and whatever else you need.

5. Tell the violator you will return, then move to your position of safety yo write the cite or warning, and run records.

6. Tell the person what action is going to be taken. "Sir, you will be receiveing a citation/warning for speeding." Not not use phrases such as "I am going to cite you" or I am going to give you a ticket". Again, it is not about you punishing them. The courts job is punishment.

7. Take the action. Issue the citation or warning. Explain what the person needs to do. "Sir, please sign next to the x. Signing is not a plea of guilt, it is simply your promise to appear in the JP court within 10 days. The address and phone number will be on the back of your copy. Do you have any questions about what you need to do?"

8. Departure. This is critical. Do not tell the person to have a nice day. Simply thank them for their cooperation, if appropriate, or close by stating "drive safely". This will often solicite a "thank you" from the violator you just issued several tickets to. Then leave. Don't hang around and hash it out.


I know several of the LEO's here will disagree with this. I saw it work, and when I adopted it my traffic stops went much smoother and stress free.

I will also tell you that DPS teaches, and I also tried to follow this logic. I decided before I exited my unit whether to issue a citation or warning. It was not my job to enforce attitudes, nor was that allowed by statute or my departments rules or operations manuals. When you allow it to become personal, you fail to be professional.

**Please note that this is only for your standard traffic stop. All officer safety procedures should be followed, and if the stop turns to anything more than a traffic violation then proper safety, tactical and investigative procedures must be followed. If your sixth sense or whatever you call it makes you feel hinky, do what you gotta do***

[the other Jon]

heres a wierd question: i almost always wear a regular baseball hat when i am driving so would you guys consider it rude if i didnt take it off while being pulled over? i'm 19 if that makes a difference.

[michiganstud]

Adults do not react well when forced into the child role in an adult-child relationship. When a LEO conducts a traffic stop and acts overly authoritive it causes this relationship.

I, unlike Cobra who is a teenage Explorer, was a Police Officer for ten years. I was taught, like most municipal officers, that a LEO must always be in control of any incident. Anytime I was dealing with the public I must be in control. If I asked for a violator's DL, then by-golly I was the boss and they were just going to hand it over with no need for me to offer an explanation.
*

VERY GOOD POST, very informative, but no reason to pick on Cobra. He is just explaining how he was taught. Where are you going with this Adult / kid thing??

I will prolly use the "any questions on what you need to do now" line, that sounds great.

[michiganstud]

heres a wierd question: i almost always wear a regular baseball hat when i am driving so would you guys consider it rude if i didnt take it off while being pulled over? i'm 19 if that makes a difference.

I'm 28 and it makes no difference to me, but I know too many cops out there that are stereotypical and all over the 19 year old kids. I treat people like a human being wether they are 60 or 18. That is until they give me reason to treat them like a ****head. LOL. and a hat isn't one of them. The first thing that pisses me off is the damn stereo! Turn that down.

[Switchback]

VERY GOOD POST, very informative, but no reason to pick on Cobra. He is just explaining how he was taught. Where are you going with this Adult / kid thing??

I will prolly use the "any questions on what you need to do now" line, that sounds great.

I think Tx is aying that when you trat adults like children it tends to (unnecessarily) make for difficult situations.

[the other Jon]

Turn that down.

yeah i really hate that too.

[txinvestigator1]

I think Tx is aying that when you trat adults like children it tends to (unnecessarily) make for difficult situations.

Yeah, and I did not mean to pick on Cobra, but he is an Explorer and I think the OP should know that. I knew I had a lot of writing ahead of me, and I did not want to spend more time typing to addressing that.

So sorry Cobra, no offense, just trying to be concise.