Traffic Stop

Within this page, you will learn how to execute a traffic stop.

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A traffic stop is when an LEO officer stops someone or a vehicle for breaking the law or if they are suspected of a crime. You must have a valid reason to conduct a traffic stop. When performing one, you must know how to do it properly and the proper ways to keep everyone safe.

Proper Traffic Stop

When pulling someone over, it is essential to position your vehicle in the correct orientation. The technique we use here is called "Tropper's Alley." Here, we stopped the vehicle and placed it towards the left. We do this to protect the vehicle we pulled over in case another driver was driving erratically; we also do this so that if the vehicle starts to take off, all we have to do is jump in the car and drive off.

Another technique we use is called "Tropper's Cross". After we did the "Tropper's Alley," we walked over to the vehicle's passenger side. We do this to keep us safe; this way, our back is not towards the way of traffic, and we are on a protected side. We take This safety measure to ensure our safety during the stop.

The left arrow shows how the car should be postioned. The righ arrow shows which way you should walk.

After adequately positioning your vehicle and walking over to the vehicle, you now need to introduce yourself, saying your name and rank. You then need to tell them why you stopped them. After that, you must get the registration, driver's license, and proof of insurance. You must take their first and last name and DOB if they do not have a driver's license.

Once you have those papers, you should return them to your vehicle and check them out. You should also check the driver's behavior; if they are acting scared, looking around a lot, or showing aggressive behavior, you should call for an additional unit. Safety is the number one thing you should always consider.

Once you have checked everything out, you can hand them their papers back and decide what to do next. Depending on the severity of the situation, you can determine the consequence.

Log every warning, citation, and other citation form using ERM. If you fail to do so, you will be punished.

Conducting a proper traffic stop is basic knowledge and should be remembered by all employees at the LSO.