NCJ Number
197250
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 69 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2002 Pages: 90,93,94,96,98
Date Published
October 2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the efforts of the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in helping law enforcement agencies in homeland security.
Abstract
The NHTSA is working to develop strategies, training, and resources to help law enforcement agencies. Their efforts are designed to complement existing initiatives that safeguard the Nation from security threats. Before September 11, 2001, routine efforts by traffic law enforcement officers had already helped to identify some terrorists that were later determined to have been involved in the attacks. While these stops did not prevent the terrorist acts, they show that traffic law enforcement can play a crucial role in helping identify and apprehend criminals that threaten Americans’ security. The NHTSA has provided training to State and local academy personnel to teach patrol officers about the critical relationship between traffic enforcement and criminal enforcement. The course discusses how officers can effectively, legally, and professionally conduct criminal interdiction at traffic stops when suspicious indicators are present. It covers topics such as suspicious physical indicators, legal issues, concealment locations, and professionalism at the stop. There are a number of issues relevant to traffic law enforcement that will need to be resolved with the help of the Federal, State, and local law enforcement partners in enhancing safety and reducing the terrorist threat. These include maintaining a high level of traffic law enforcement; real-time access to driver data at the point of the stop for detecting unlicensed, unregistered, and suspended motorists; and encouraging citizens to report suspicious activities on roadways. Better coordination between emergency medical personnel and law enforcement is encouraged. Traffic enforcement officers are in a good position to work in partnership with citizens to take part in homeland security efforts in the community. Law enforcement agencies need to consider innovative scheduling techniques that commit a greater percentage of their personnel to traffic enforcement so that complete traffic stop procedures can be employed. 7 footnotes