Hand crank windows

[Oldgringo]

Why would the LEO approach from the passenger side even if there's only one visible person in the vehicle? That doesn't strike me as a good tactical move.

You ever see a cop get hit by some dumb drunk while writing a traffic citation?

No, have you?

[Oldgringo]

Why would the LEO approach from the passenger side even if there's only one visible person in the vehicle? That doesn't strike me as a good tactical move.

There are many tactical advantages of the pass side vs. the driver's side. The same is true the other way. It will completely depend on all known factors at the time as to which side I approach a vehicle from.

No self respecting LEO will devulge tactics over the internet. Feel free to speculate all you want on the tactics used, but over the internet, and in most cases in real life, you will not be given the full insite......kind of defeats the purpose of a tactical advantage.

That's kinda' what I thought and the reason for askin'.

[JeepGuy79]

Why would the LEO approach from the passenger side even if there's only one visible person in the vehicle? That doesn't strike me as a good tactical move.

You ever see a cop get hit by some dumb drunk while writing a traffic citation?

No, have you?

Only on video. But yeah multiple times. Even youtube has some. check this one getting a nasty spanking from a mirror. ouch.

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[13MWZ]

I will say that JeepGuy's reason is one of the many reasons. Even during the day people (namely impaired drivers) seem to get "target fixation" on us, our partol cars and all the pretty lights. Many Officers have been killed, badly injured and very close calls due to passing traffic coliding with vehicles on the side of the road. Look it up on youtube if it interests you, there are many videos. Most of which become training aides.

[Oldgringo]

I will say that JeepGuy's reason is one of the many reasons. Even during the day people (namely impaired drivers) seem to get "target fixation" on us, our partol cars and all the pretty lights. Many Officers have been killed, badly injured and very close calls due to passing traffic coliding with vehicles on the side of the road. Look it up on youtube if it interests you, there are many videos. Most of which become training aides.

I've seen some of the videos and don't doubt the reason for approaching from the passenger side. I'm not a trained LEO but I don't think approaching a stopped vehicle on the passenger side would be my first choice. Heck, I wait for hi-speed maroons to get by before I reach in my mailbox which is a couple feet off the pavement.

Safe journeys.

[JeepGuy79]

1 man cannot do a contact/cover stop. It gives the officer a tactical advantage when approaching. Only thing I see as a negative is if he has to reach across a passenger side into the cabin of the occupied vehicle.

[alvins]

i recently was pulled over. I just rolled my window down right after i stopped.( it doesnt take that long to hand crank a window down)

i had my chl and drivers license out before he could even get out of his car. i gave them to him and i told him i had my gun. he gave my chl back and asked if i knew what i did wrong.

its not a big deal. i think people overthink and get all tactical about it.

[AdioSS]

why do they always ask if you know why you were pulled over or how fast you were going?

[Thomas]

why do they always ask if you know why you were pulled over or how fast you were going?

Because they are trying to get you to admit guilt.

[Jaguar]

why do they always ask if you know why you were pulled over or how fast you were going?

Because they are trying to get you to admit guilt.

My standards answer, "you were bored?"

"Why did you run?" "My ex wife ran off with a cop, I thought you were returning her."

Seriously, the last couple times I never admitted guilt and just let them explain it to me. Both times were warnings, one for 58 in a 45 on a road that doesn't have a 45 zone on it (goes from 60 to 55 to 50 to 40, I know, I drive it everyday), and once for disregarding a stop sign after I sat at said stop sign for close to 30 seconds waiting on traffic.

But from those two stops I have formulated my plan of never admit guilt on his mic and video. I may know exactly what I did wrong, but I won't say it for the record, it can and will be used against me.

[srothstein]

why do they always ask if you know why you were pulled over or how fast you were going?

Because they are not doing the stop correctly. The method taught in most academies, and one I strongly encourage, is what is called the seven step approach. when you talk to the driver, you immediately identify yourself, your agency, and the reason for the stop. You then ask for the DL and insurance (and registration in other states), tell the driver what you are going to do, and go back to a safe spot (in many cases this is now you car to use the computer but it was not supposed to be) and run the driver and write the ticket/warning whatever. You then return to the car and give the driver his copy, and a polite goodbye (not wishing them a nice day - it sounds sarcastic).

Following this process every time has several advantages. The first is that it makes it very easy to keep the same process and avoid complaints. The second is that it makes it much less likely to get arguments from the driver since you tell them right off why they were stopped and what is going to happen. The third is that the stop takes the least possible time so you can get back out on your job as quickly as possible.

Some tricks you develop are how to tell the person why they were stopped without getting arguments. For example, I would almost never tell them they were doing a set speed or use the word speeding. Instead I would just say I stopped them for exceeding the posted limit. I would not say they ran a stop sign or red light, just that they failed to stop for it. Things like this sound less accusatory and help keep things on a calmer basis.

[TexasCajun]

why do they always ask if you know why you were pulled over or how fast you were going?

I always thought it was to get the driver taking so they can see if there's something else to investigate. "Sir, you seem to be slurring your words. Have you been drinking?" "Sir, you seem nervous. Why is that?"

[13MWZ]

There is a reason for almost everything we say or do on a stop. Many of them have multiple reasons. Some are just habits we get into, some just plain curiosity or trying to be friendly in return to a corporative respectful person. Keep in mind not every officer thinks the same way, was trained the same way or acts/reacts the same way. So asking who/what/why/when/where/how an officer or agency did this or that can have many "answers", they can all, or none, be correct for that situation with that officer.

Despite societies expectations of us and views on us......under our uniforms we're just people too.

[Mike1951]

I had a situation when the electric passenger window was out of commission, so I just shook my head when he pointed at it.

Can't say it worked, though, since I got the ticket.