Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Information on what to do if you are stopped by a Police Officer in South Lake Tahoe
Police Officers may during the course of their duties stop citizens for various reasons. From time to time, it becomes necessary for a police Officer to stop people on the street to make an inquiry such as:
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• What is your name?
• What is your address?
• Do you have any identification?
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Usually this occurs in areas of high crime, soon after a crime has been committed or in an area at an odd hour of the day. Sometimes a routine encounter may cause a person to feel intimidated or to respond in a manner, which gives rise to conflict or suspicion.
If an officer stops you, your forthright responses will usually resolve the situation quickly. If the officer has not told you why you have been stopped, you may inquire.
The most frequent stop or an encounter that occur between the police and citizens is the traffic stop. This type of stop is also the most dangerous kind of stop for a police officer. Usually, police officers will pull a vehicle over if they have reason to believe that some offense has occurred. You may feel anxious, irritated at the delay, or concerned about a possible citation. However, officers are also concerned about possible threats to their personal safety.
The following recommended procedures will ensure that traffic stops can be completed quickly and safely:
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• When signaled by an officer, safely pull over to a place out of the traffic flow.
Pull over to the right side of the roadway.
• Sit calmly, with your hands visible on the steering wheel. If you have passengers, ask them to sit quietly with their hands visible.
(Avoid sudden movements or ducking in the seat—these actions can unnecessarily alarm the officer)
• If it is night, turn on your vehicle’s inside light when you pull the car over.
For safety reasons, the officer will want to visually scan the car’s interior before proceeding.
• DO NOT get out of your car unless the officer asks you to step out.
If you are asked to do so, comply in a calm manner.
• A sure way to put an officer at ease is to communicate your actions in
advance by telling the officer what you will be doing before you move.
• If requested, you must give the officer your driver’s license and vehicle registration. Tell the officer where it is before reaching for it—especially if it is tucked away in the glove box or some other unusual place.
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If you are issued a citation, the citation will be explained to you as well as your right to appeal it. You will be asked to sign the citation. Signing is not an admission of guilt, but an acknowledgement that you received the citation. If you refuse to sign the citation, you WILL be taken into custody. While you may wish to clarify the circumstances of the citation, keep in mind that your guilt or innocence can only be determined in court. Arguments over or protests about the situation cannot nor will they be resolved in the street.
Generally, police officers will:
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• Provide their name and ID number upon request
• If in plain clothes, identify themselves when taking action.
• Inform a person about the reason for being stopped or questioned
• Use only the amount of force necessary to effect the arrest of a suspect—
Excessive force will not be tolerated by the department. |
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