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Traffic Safety

Courteous Practices for Drivers at Traffic Stop

 By James J. Onder, Ph.D.

 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Washington D.C. 

Building better community relations remains one of the primary concerns of law enforcement throughout the country.  That is why every action by a law enforcement officer-traffic stops chief among them-has a bearing on the relationship of the agency with the community. 

(Editor's Note: For some best practices for officers, refer to James Onder's article "Professionalism at the Traffic Stop," which appeared in the March-April 2001 issue of Sheriff magazine. 

But, traffic stops are a two-wav street-a two-wav communications system that operates much like a telephone.  Each end of the line has a transmitter to send messages and a device to receive messages. The parties at either end of the line alternatively talk and listen. The public in fact has an important role in how traffic stops play out, which is why public education about how people should conduct themselves during traffic stops could help these encounters go smoothly for both officers and motorists. 

The information on the following pages can be passed on to the public in printed public-information materials, face-to-face presentations with community groups and schools, interviews with the media and training videotapes, appropriate for your jurisdiction. These messages could be included in driver-education courses and driver improvement programs, printed in the state's drive license manual or placed in visitor centers and rest areas on highways. 

If this information is communicated to the public, and officers do their part to maintain professional behavior during traffic stops, over time this will go a long way in minimizing the number of complaints and helping the law enforcement agency maintain better community relations with the public.

So you speed sometimes and gingerly run an occasional stop sign.  That's not such a big deal-or is it? How would you feel if a stop-sign runner speeds through a school zone where your child is waiting for a school bus? 

Why Deputies Conduct Traffic Stops

Deputies keep this kind of activity in check.  No one likes to get a ticket, but if a ticket deters us from doing things that put the community's safe at risk, we all benefit. 

The main reason deputies conduct traffic stops is to enforce the law and to encourage voluntary compliance with these laws. The goal is to reduce injuries and deaths on our roadways.  However, deputies who conduct traffic stops also save us money Say an uninsured driver is not wearing a seatbelt, speeds down the road, loses control and hits a guardrail.  Who pays for rescue and emergency services? Who pays for his hospital stay and physical therapy?  Who pays for the guardrail repair? It is not the motorist, but your local government, which is generously funded by you, the taxpayer.  Costs are controlled every time patrol officers enforce the laws.  This is another reason why deputies encourage us to do things like wear our seat belts, use child safety seats for our little ones, and to not speed or drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. 

Traffic Stops Are Dangerous Many officers are killed each year and thousands more are injured in traffic-related incidences.  For example, in 1999, more than half of all officer line-of-duty deaths were related to traffic incidences.  And when there is use of weapons at the traffic stop, the percentage of traffic-related deaths is more than 55 percent.  Every stop for a traffic violation has the potential for danger. 

Routine traffic stops, as they are sometimes called, sometimes turn out to be anything but routine.  Officers find uninsured drivers, drivers with suspended licenses, impaired drivers, illegal firearms, drugs and fugitives.  Discoveries like these are all in a day's work for many officers.  This is why officers are trained to place a great deal of emphasis on their safety and to take a defensive posture at the stop until the risk of confrontation or injury is diminished.

What Can You Do?

Whether you are stopped by a state highway patrol or state police trooper, a county sheriff deputy, or a local police officer, under our laws and local ordinances, you are expected to cooperate, just as the officer strives to maintain a level of professionalism during the traffic stop, drivers and other occupants can do their part, too, by following these simple guidelines. 

1.   Carry proper identification: a valid driver's license, proof of vehicle registration and proof of insurance. 

2.   When being signaled by, a deputy to stop, look for the nearest place to position your vehicle, as far out of the lane of traffic as possible.  Generally, pull off to the right side of the roadway or to where the shoulder is wider, unless otherwise directed.  Signal your move to the side of the roadway, stop, then turn on your flashers. 

3.   Never attempt to outrun the patrol vehicle or pretend not to see the lights or hear the siren.

4.   Stay in your vehicle.  If you are asked to exit the vehicle, do it slowly.

5.   Remain calm.  If there are passengers, also ask them to remain quiet and to be cooperative with all reasonable requests.  Do no let anyone in your vehicle make threatening statements or gestures to the officers. 

6.   Keep your seat belt fastened until the deputy has seen you wearing it. 

7.   Avoid automatically thinking that this stop was based on race, gender. religion, or on national or ethnic origin. Wait for the officer’s explanation.  Officers are trained to know that that type of traffic stop violates federal civil rights laws. 

8.   Turn on the interior lights when the stop occurs during dark ness so the deputy can easily see that all is in order. 

9.   Understand that the deputy will turn on the patrol car's headlights and spotlights during darkness for safety purposes.  It helps to illuminate your car's interior. 

10. Understand that there is a reason why at times officers at traffic stops will speak loudly-for example, they may be near traffic and other noisy conditions.  They are not trying to intimidate you.

11.  Keep your hands in view, preferably on the steering wheel.  Ask your passengers to place their hands in plain view, such as on their laps.

12.  Do not duck down or make sudden movements, especially toward the floorboard, rear seat or passenger side of the vehicle.  The deputy may interpret these movements as an attempt to hide illegal goods or to obtain a weapon. 

13. Turn off your engine.  Also, if in use, turn off your cell phone an radio to facilitate communications.

14. Roll down your window all the way so you and the deputy can communicate.

15. Ask for identification if the deputy is not in uniform or does no have a marked patrol vehicle.

16.  Remember the deputy's name. 

17.  Remember, the first words spoken by you (and the officer) may very well determine the tone of the interaction during the traffic stop. 

18.   Do not immediately reach into your glove box, console pocket or backseat. Wait for the deputy to request your license, registration and proof of insurance.  If the documents are out of reach, tell the deputy where they are and reach for them slowly. Otherwise, keep your hands on the steering wheel. 

19.   Give the deputy a chance to explain the violation.  Most deputies are trained to ask for identification first before providing explanation for the stop. 

20.   Answer the deputy's questions to the best of your knowledge keeping in mind that by law you do have the right to not answer questions. 

21.   If the charge or citation is not clear, ask for an explanation in respectful manner. 

22.   There is no need to apologize for or to elaborate on the offense-in effect, to testify against yourself.  Simply be civil and polite.  If there are any special circumstances surrounding the incident, provide a straight, up-front explanation. 

23.   Avoid provoking the deputy or showing off in front of other occupants.  Do not interfere with the questioning or the arresting of other occupants.  Comply with the deputy first and then, if needed, seek an explanation. 

24.   Do not argue with the officer at the roadside. If you disagree with the citation or the officer's actions, discuss it later with the law enforcement agency or the judge.

25.  Let the officer know if you are carrying a properly registered weapon.  In these cases, the officer may have a special procedure that, for example, may require you to identify the weapon’s location, to state if the weapon is loaded, to step out of the vehicle, etc.  Also, the officer may ask for your permit number to radio in a check and compare it to the serial number on the weapon.  In some states, weapons are registered for specific purposes, such as hunting and target practice, so the officer may be required to ask you questions about your activities.

26.   Report the incident to the officer's agency, if you feel the office has acted irresponsibly.  Document the officer's specific misconduct in a written statement and submit it within a few days after the incident.  Call the agency and follow their procedure.  Also, since traffic enforcement procedures may vary from state to state, consult an attorney or law enforcement agency representative who is familiar with laws and agency policies.

27.   If you receive a citation, in most states you will be asked to sign it. This is not an admission of guilt.  It only means that you received the citation. Any refusal to sign the citation could result in an arrest or being taken to the station to post collateral and pay for the offense.

28.   Don't be surprised if another patrol car appears.  Since many law enforcement agencies use one-person patrol cars, this is done to ensure the deputy’s safety. 

29.   Do not resist a pat-down search. This will be done only if the officer has a reasonable suspicion that you may be carrying anything that would jeopardize his or her safety.

30.   Be flexible. There are many issues of safety and officer concerns that may be unique to your traffic stop.  No traffic stop is routine.  Cooperate with the officer and follow instructions.

31.    Practice the golden rule.  Treat the deputy like your or a member of your family would want to be treated.

32.   Treat law enforcement officers with respect.  In fact, say hello to officers next time you see one around your community.  Write the agency when an officer is exceptionally kind and helpful. 

33.   Teach your children to respect and to talk to law enforcement officers when they meet them in the community, schools, etc.  Help them realize that officers serve and protect everyone the community.  We must continue to pass on, from generation to generation, respect for professional law enforcement officers. 

This article is excerpted from Strengthening the Citizen and Law Enforcement Partnership at the Traffic Stop, a publication by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  For a copy, fax your request to Jim Onaer, of the Traffic Law Enforcement Division, at (202) 36@7721.