The Freeway Traffic Stop

[Srebeiro]

Okay,
Well here it goes a while ago I noticed in California a PD unit doing a Traffic Stop on the freeway, with all his lights going and what not. We covered with some people on this forum How certain things are done differently (including in California. From north to south) Today as I was doing my usual dash home (30 miles from High School to my house in San Francisco) I noticed one of the Sheriffs Office deputies on a Traffic Stop. CHP style in mainy respects, no rear flashers except for hazard lights, he even took it down to nothing in the front. (No steady red) But he did have his spotlight on beacuse it was getting pretty dark here at 19:00. He approached with his back to traffic near the lane.

My question for you all, is how have you (if your LEO) preformed traffic stops on the freeway, and how are things done differently from your agency to someone near by. I am really intrested now. I have GREAT respect for the California Highway Patrol, and proudly sound the theme to CHiPs on my Cell Phone every time it rings :D !
So lets here it guys and gal's

[mcsap]

ON the "I" interstate highway , I still offset my cruiser to the left but approach and talk to the driver on the PASSENGER side. I cannot always hear my radio when within a couple of feet of big trucks going by and I like all of my arms and legs where they have been since day 1.

I use ALL of my overheads during the stop, but do kill the wig-wags.

[JD45]

Complete CHP style for me.

[Srebeiro]

MCSAP, just sent you a PM you can disregard!
Heh.
JD45, do you leave your steady red on. I know I sound obsessive over the "red" but my agency uses video equipment and in some of the old cars it wont record unless you manually press "REC" if you key back down from the postion on the switch.
and that matters.

[dwf]

I change the way I do it depending on the time. During daylight hours, I have the lights blazing. After dark, I kill the rear strobes and turn on the yellow flashers. Drunks are said to be attracted to the strobes like moths to the light on your porch. I don't need the rear strobes to perform the stop and can perhaps reduce the chance of being peeled off the side of the car by turning them off. I leave the ones up front going to make it hard to see me.

The car is always canted, I watched a partners life saved by a canted car one night. He was on a freeway stop, at night and his car was plowed into by a drunk. The offending car bounced back into the lane of travel and missed him by just under a foot. That little wake up call also confirmed everything I ever thought about passenger side approaches, the only time I go up to the drivers window is if I absolutely have to.

[darrell]

MSP will do stops 3 different ways on the freeway.

1) My buddy will pull people over on the opposite side of the lane. IE left instead of right to make sure there is more room for error when things get ugly. (not the greatest thing) I have seen other State Agencies do this as well.

2) Their patrol car iscompletely off the shoulder and roadway and is parked on the grass in the ditch or median.

3) Off centered to the left like mcsap said.

[JD45]

MCSAP, just sent you a PM you can disregard!
Heh.
JD45, do you leave your steady red on. I know I sound obsessive over the "red" but my agency uses video equipment and in some of the old cars it wont record unless you manually press "REC" if you key back down from the postion on the switch.
and that matters.

On the freeway, during the daylight, I leave my front red/blue on with ambers flasing in the rear.

During night, I effect the stop with my full rotators until we're off to this shoulder. Then everything get's turned off excpet my two spotlights, take downs and hazards. No lightbar equipment is left on.

[Srebeiro]

I know if your Highway Patrol its probally not needed,
but do any of you feel that there is a refresher course needed at all or more focus to be paid on EVOC training? I get the feeling no, but if you dont use it every day it might come in handy.
Also, how do you all feel about wearing Reflective Clothing. I know our officers have the option of requesting a Traffic vest thats made by spiewak that is very "good looking" and highly reflective. Only catch is they are required to ware it anytime they direct traffic or do anything traffic wise except for traffic stops. otherwise they have a junky old style vest with POLICE on it. Personally I don't know I have a light blue unifrom shirt so I stick out more. (Just like the old San Mateo County Sheriffs Department)

[scott715us]

I have never been taught to turn all the light equipment off during a traffic stop at night. We have blue lights or a combination of blue and red in TN. But blue has to be visible to signify law enforcement. I will position my car CHP style, and more than likely approach from the passenger side if it is a freeway. It usually throws the perp off approaching from the right side. We go through a week of defensive driving at the state police academy and also many hours of stop and approach.

I understand concerns where lights may attract someone toward the vehicle, but it deters far more than it attracts. My wheels are always turned and I am very cautious and aware of my surroundings when I am on a stop when it comes to high speed traffic. You are never 100% safe, whether from the perp or the other drivers. It just comes with the job and you have to be careful. Stay safe. ;)

[sbrad]

MSP will do stops 3 different ways on the freeway.

1) My buddy will pull people over on the opposite side of the lane. IE left instead of right to make sure there is more room for error when things get ugly. (not the greatest thing) I have seen other State Agencies do this as well.

2) Their patrol car iscompletely off the shoulder and roadway and is parked on the grass in the ditch or median.

3) Off centered to the left like mcsap said.

Do they turn their strobe bar off?

[darrell]

Bite Me Cause I Know Where You Are Taking This One Smart ***. :d

[sbrad]

Bite Me Cause I Know Where You Are Taking This One Smart ***. :d

^^Captain Obvious^^

[P01IC3M4N]

i pull way off the road regardless of where they pull over. i pull into the ditch and point my car at them. then i walk around behind my car and up to their passenger side. i usually kill the lightbar except for a directional and a little flasher.

it works really great unless i have days like yesterday. i didn't realize what i'd been doing until i got about midway through writing the cite. i could feel the hundreds of ants making their way up my leg biting as they went along. that hurts like hell. i was slapping at ants in my pants for almost 2 hours.

[121Traffic]

"Oh, and look what Kyle bought me for my birthday...it's the Blue Mega---....!!

Ants in the pants?

ANTS IN THE PANTS?!

You bought me f*cking Ants in the Pants?!"

There HAVE to be some more South Park fans here. :D

[Babysmamadrama]

"Umkay"