Question on written warnings for traffic stops

[PoePoe2797]

Ok, I have always wondered this. Usually 1 of 4 things that I know of usually happens during a traffic stop: arrest, ticket, written warning, or verbal warning. Now I can see why the first 2 are necessary but not the last 2. Now, what gets me is, around here the written warning means absolutely nothing to people. It doesn't go to insurance, no one ever files the back of the warnings like it says your supposed to, with no punishment at all, and they just throw it away like it never happened. Now, if the police knew this, then what would be the point of stopping someone to give them a written warning if it means nothing. From what I understand, it does get filed at the DMV but no one has ever experienced any negative effects from getting one. It seems kind of pointless to spend extra time to fill one of those forms out when you can just give a verbal warning. Thanks

[kels]

Warnings are good for a couple of things.

When you get the same person again 8 months later for doing exactly
the same violation, you can show in court that the person has already
been warned for the violation. Judges frown on STUPID people.

Once in a while, a crime will be solved because a vehicle is in the wrong
place at the right time. (and you have a written record of it)

and last but not least, when your local frequent flier runs on you during
a car stop. YOU ALREADY HAVE HIS INFORMATION.

Our warnings stay with the officer.

[CTUCop]

Obviously, the actions taken by the officer are up to the officer. It’s called “Officer Discretion”. Also, most PDs have their own CAD system and most information in the CAD is “in-house” information and not necessarily shared with other agencies. So a CAD entry isn’t really available to DMV and insurance vendors.

Although it can vary as to reporting method, at my PD a verbal warning may or may not be entered into the CAD in a way that it will show during a “contact search” of the database. We have some dispatcher issues as to entering data and they all enter it differently, but that’s a different problem.

When I use a written warning, I enter the info into the CAD. So if a CAD check is done, it shows up as a warning, and of course, shows the reason. (Providing the dispatcher knows how to do the CAD check and knows how to read the results!?!) I will use written warnings in various situations. For instance, if we are going to hit a particular area for speed enforcement for an extended period, I will use written warnings for the first few days to heighten the public awareness that we are doing it, then switch to infractions for the rest of the period. (It’s always fun to stop a driver a week into one of those periods and be able to say, “We gave you a written warning four days ago for speeding”. And of course, that gets noted in the back-up so it’s one more strike. Still, a lot of officers are of the opinion that if you are going to “put pen to paper” you might as well write the citation, but I’m comfortable with my method.

In CT, few if any written warnings “go outside of the PD”. CT DMV decided several years ago that they couldn’t be bothered tracking and entering written warnings. They only get “inspection required” equipment warnings and a [very] few other ones. So there are no “points” assessed for most violations and no way will the insurance companies hear about it.

Most of this information is posted on a variety of CT.gov web sites.

[scott715us]

Ok, I have always wondered this. Usually 1 of 4 things that I know of usually happens during a traffic stop: arrest, ticket, written warning, or verbal warning. Now I can see why the first 2 are necessary but not the last 2. Now, what gets me is, around here the written warning means absolutely nothing to people. It doesn't go to insurance, no one ever files the back of the warnings like it says your supposed to, with no punishment at all, and they just throw it away like it never happened. Now, if the police knew this, then what would be the point of stopping someone to give them a written warning if it means nothing. From what I understand, it does get filed at the DMV but no one has ever experienced any negative effects from getting one. It seems kind of pointless to spend extra time to fill one of those forms out when you can just give a verbal warning. Thanks

Some people actually do heed the speel limits after having the life scared out of them by being pulled over and chastised by the officer, at least in the area they were pulled over in. In my limited jurisdiction I pull over an assload of people. Whether writing tickets or giving warnings, the general driving public in that area always sees a cop car with someone pulled over. Overall, it will slow down a majority of them in that area (my area).

[mcsap]

Our written warnings have "teeth" in PA.

I can issue a written warning for just about anything and I can also do it on PARKED cars ( for equipment vio's only).

The person who gets the written warning has 5 days to " repair the car or show proof of ins etc" AND to submit written evidence of the correction. In our case, the back of the warning card has a place for a state inspection mechanic to sign off on equipment vio's or a place for ANY police officer to sign off for equipment or drivers license/reg/insurance issues.

Failure to submit written evidence of the compliance ( regardless if the correction was actually made) is a $105.50 fine on the person. AND they can't legally drive the car until the correction has been done.

When I don't get warning cards back, I cite for the original offense ( burned out light etc. ) AND the failure to respond section. If they in fact DID fix the problem and take a hearing, the judge will probably toss the equipment vio but not the failure to respond cite.

If a person REFUSES to comply with a verbal or written warning , it is a $500 fine. PA Vehicle Code , section 6311 Enforcement Authority. I have only used this a handful of times for flat out refusals.

[DeltaV]

Florida has no state form for written warnings, so they're something that agencies elect either to make up on their own or not use. Only some agencies around here use written warnings, ours does not. They mainly are used to keep statistics on officers' stops because of discriminatory profiling concerns.

My department has a records management system that is integrated into our dispatch software. If I so desire, I can do a quick electronic field investigation on a subject who I pull over. That way, any other officers from our agency who come into contact with the subject will see that I pulled him over and will be able to read why. It's not something I do on every stop, but rather when there are suspicious circumstances of some sort.

[samseed101]

We do not issue written warnings. All warnings / arrests / summonses are entered into teh computer. So when you get stopped later we will know exactly how many times you have been stopped, arrested, warned, summonsed, or anything. And chances are if you recieved a previous warning, then you will get a summons.

[leo401]

Or....have you considered that maybe we the police are merely showing a written an auditable record that we have been making a effort to curb traffic infractions in an area notorius for complaints about traffic violations, doing so in a manner more public friendly (commuity oriented policing) or..just maybe we are using the written warning to show an established probable cause in a case where we actually may be targeting narcotics. My question is why should getting a written warning bother you or anyone else? You would rather have to pay a citation?