I don’t make pretextual traffic stops. I don’t stop vehicles for minor equipment violations that don’t endanger the motoring public. I don’t run the plate on every car I see looking for the dude who has a suspended license because he didn’t pay his child support. Most of the people you catch by making these kind of stops aren’t truly criminals. They’re broke! Yes, they have likely made numerous poor decisions that have resulted in their warrants/suspensions, but most of these folks aren’t a real danger to your community. Don’t make it a habit to focus your attention on these “small fish.” Your community would probably prefer that you spend your time doing something more productive to enhance your residents’ safety.The piece also advocates better training.
It's worth a read.
(H/T)
A solid read, but it drives me to wonder why more states don't have drivers exit the vehicle? My last stop in Louisiana was almost 20 years ago, but when stopped for 67 in a 55, I was instructed to exit the vehicle and walkback toward the Officer's vehicle. Granted, I was alone in a 2 seater (Toyota MR-2), but back then LA treated your car like your house for the purposes of being able to carry a weapon. As such, I had a pistol on the passenger seat, under some papers.
ReplyDeleteThe State Trooper (working an overtime shift for St. Landry Parish for traffic enforcement) remained covered by his vehicle till he could clearly see me and then met me behind my vehicle. I advised him I had a pistol in the vehicle, on the passenger seat, and he said "That's fine, as long as you don't go for it." Short discussion, ticket issued, the Officer wandered up to my vehicle and scanned inside, and then released me...watching me while I left (trying to keep my movements clearly away from the area of the passenger seat).
On the revenue front, the ticket was changed to a non-moving violation when I sent the DA in St. Landry Parish a note (as requested) saying I didn't object to the fine but that I didn't want the ticket on my record for insurance reasons.
Is there an advantage to keeping the driver in the vehicle I'm missing here?
The only quibble I have with the article is that the police forces I have come in contact with do not, in fact, fire officers in a heartbeat when they screw something up. But I'm not a cop myself and really don't claim to know the situation better than someone who is and has been for such a long time.
ReplyDeleteOn a related note, I read an article today that said that some of the states that have legalized marijuana are reporting a 50% drop in warrantless searches during traffic stops, just the kind of thing the author of the linked article was suggesting for everyone's safety, so perhaps something may be improving?
-Doug in Oakland