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38.0 D.L. & VEHICLE INSPECCTION CHECKPOINTS Page 1 of 4 EDGEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER # 38.0 DRIVER LICENSE & VEHICLE INSPECTION CHECKPOINTS Effective Date: July 1, 2009 The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for conducting driver license and vehicle inspection checkpoints. This policy shall consist of the following numbered sections: I. General II. Checkpoint Procedures I. GENERAL A. Policy 1. To effectively enforce driver license and motor vehicle laws 2. To reduce injuries and vehicle crashes utilizin g checkpoints B. Objectives 1. To review a large volume of vehicles and drivers for compliance under controlled situations 2. To establish authorization procedures for conducting checkpoints 3. To establish media notification procedures for ch eckpoints 4. To establish procedures for conducting checkpoints II. CHECKPOINT PROCEDURES A. Authorization 1. All checkpoints must be approved by the Chief of Police, or in his absence, his designee 2. The request and approval of the checkpoint must be made in writing a minimum of one week in advance of the checkpoint B. Media Notification 1. Prior to the establishment of a checkpoint, information pertaining to the checkpoint will be made ava ilable to the public a. The public will be advised utilizing any (or all) of the following 1. The news media 2. The City of Edgewood web site 3. On site notification b. Information to be provided to the public shall include the following: 38.0 D.L. & VEHICLE INSPECCTION CHECKPOINTS Page 2 of 4 1. Location of the checkpoint 2. Date of the checkpoint 3. Time/s of the checkpoint 4. Type of checkpoint (driver license or vehicle inspection) c. On site dissemination shall consist of the installation of a sign placed on the shoulder of the road indicating the presence of the checkpoint d. On site dissemination shall be used at all checkpoints conducted by agency personnel 2. The public information pertaining to the checkpoint shall be made available a minimum of one day prior to the checkpoint if the information is disseminated via the news media and/or web site 3. If a press release is made it must receive approval from the Mayor (acting in his capacity as the P.I.O.) prior to its being releas ed 4. A sample media release is attached to this policy as Addendum 1 C. Checkpoint Operation 1. All checkpoints shall be conducted during weather conditions that will not obstruct the visibility of the officers or present a hazard to either the officer or the motorist. 2. A supervisor shall be present during the checkpoint a. The supervisor shall determine if the checkpoint should be conducted taking into account the following: 1. Traffic present 2. Effect of the checkpoint on traffic (traffic delays) b. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring that checkpoint procedures are followed 3. Officers shall advise every driver who is detained the purpose of the stop 4. All vehicle stops shall involve only the minimum detention necessary to accomplish the checkpoint objective/s 5. Officers conducting a driver license and/or vehicle inspection checkpoint shall request the following from each driver detained: a. Driver license b. Vehicle registration c. If the driver is also the owner or registrant of the vehicle proof of insurance 6. Officers conducting a driver license and/or vehicle inspection checkpoint shall enforce all violations pursuant to Florida State Statutes 7. Officers conducting a vehicle inspection checkpoint shall inspect the following equipment on each vehicle stopped for violations of Florida State Statutes: a. Horn b. Windshield wipers c. Brakes d. Tail lamps 38.0 D.L. & VEHICLE INSPECCTION CHECKPOINTS Page 3 of 4 e. Directional signal s (required on all vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1972) f. Stop lamps (one on each side required on all vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1972) g. License plate lamp h. Headlamps i. Steering mechanism j. Tires k. Exhaust system 8. Officers shall conduct either a driver license or vehicle inspection checkpoint pursuant to the provisions in this policy. a. Officers shall not conduct a driver license checkpoint with regard to some vehicles and a vehi cle inspection checkpoint with regard to other vehicles at the same checkpoint b. The purpose and procedures of the specific checkpoint must be consistently applied to all vehicles detained c. Officers shall not detain vehicles at the chec kpoint based solely upon the race, religion, ethnic origin, etc. of the vehicle driver d. Biased policing will not be tolerated 9. Officers may issue a correction citation (commonly known as a fix -it ticket) to a driver for an equipment viol ation that is readily apparent to the officer when the vehicle is stopped at a driver license checkpoint 10. Officers shall not conduct an equipment inspection of a vehicle stopped at a driver license checkpoint 11. During a driver license or vehicle inspection checkpoint the supervisor shall specify each vehicle, or every second, third, fourth or fifth vehicle to be stopped 12. In the event that the supervisor determines that traffic is backing up and motorists are experiencing a n unreasonable delay the supervisor shall direct that vehicles be waved through the checkpoint until traffic clears. The checkpoint may then be resumed 13. An operations plan will be prepared prior to the checkpoint and an after action repor t completed upon conclusion of the checkpoint a. The supervisor shall be responsible for the above listed