G10.1.1 Motorist Stops
Chapter: Chapter 10: Traffic and Parking Services
Sub-Chapter: 10.1 - Motor Vehicle Enforcement Activities
Effective Date: 05/29/2019
Revised Date: 11/28/2023
Rescinds: G10.1.1 – 5/29/2020
Purpose
To describe the general guidelines officers of the Indiana University Police Department (IUPD) will follow when stopping, approaching, and contacting traffic law violators, including high risk stops.
General Order
The IUPD conducts traffic stops in a professional, courteous, fair, and impartial manner. The IUPD promotes educating the motoring public about proper driving procedures, while recognizing and taking steps to minimize the dangers involved in traffic stops for officers, motorists, and other users of the roadway.
It is understood that each traffic stop is a unique situation and that no two are the same. Since officers need to be afforded some degree of flexibility regarding how they conduct traffic stops, the procedures described in this general order are to be considered guidelines and are not meant to cover every conceivable situation an officer may face. Officers will continuously utilize the Critical Decision-Making Model when determining if a vehicle should be stopped, what tactics to use, and what enforcement action to take.
Stopping Violators
Officer safety is a primary consideration when making any traffic stop. Officers should avoid choosing a stop location that may inherently endanger the officer or motorist. Officers will always be aware of their location, direction of travel, and immediate surroundings.
When conducting a traffic stop, officers will:
- notify the IUPD dispatch communications center of the location of the stop and a description of the vehicle to include the license plate information and number of occupants.
- signal the violator to stop by activating the police vehicle’s emergency lights, and if necessary use the siren to get the driver’s attention.
- utilize the police vehicle’s spotlight and “take-down” lights, if available, to illuminate the interior of the vehicle during low light situations.
- position the police vehicle behind the violator vehicle in such a manner as to provide a safety zone.
- remain constantly alert during the entire traffic stop, observe the occupant(s) of the vehicle, evaluate the situation, and request assistance if needed.
- remain in a position behind the violator’s vehicle until they have safely returned to the flow of traffic or the violator’s vehicle has otherwise been removed from the roadway.
Approaching and Contacting Violators
Officers will use caution when exiting the police vehicle and contacting the driver while being alert to furtive movements and/or indicators of impairment. Officers will take appropriate actions based on the officer’s assessment of the behavior of the violator and/or occupants.
Officers will be courteous when greeting the driver and requesting documents. In addition to being courteous, an officer’s conduct and relations to a traffic violator will, at all times, be professional, tactful, and respectful.
Unless exigent circumstances are present, officers will first introduce themselves by name, agency, state the reason for the stop and allow the driver to provide a justification for the violation. Officers will not engage in argumentative discussion, even in the face of provocation. Officers will request the drivers license, vehicle registration, and any other necessary documents from the violator.
At the conclusion of the stop, officers will return the documents to the driver and explain the enforcement action taken.
High Risk Traffic Stops
When conducting a traffic stop that has likely potential for a felonious assault, officers will:
- use extreme caution and work together as a team. A minimum of two (2) officers is required to conduct a high risk traffic stop.
- consider the safety of the public when determining the location of the stop.
- with firearms drawn, utilize a structured and controlled “call back” method to secure all occupants of the vehicle.
- when it is believed that all occupants have exited the vehicle, officers will cautiously approach the vehicle to conduct a search for additional occupants, including the trunk.