Policy Text
Policy
500Garden Grove Police Department
Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/08/15, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentTraffic Function and Responsibility - 1Traffic Function and Responsibility
500.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The ultimate goal of traffic law enforcement is to reduce traffic collisions. This may be achieved
through the application of such techniques as geographic/temporal assignment of personnel and
equipment and the establishment of preventive patrols to deal with specific categories of unlawful
driving behavior. Traffic enforcement techniques are based on accident data, enforcement activity
records, traffic volume, and traffic conditions. This department provides enforcement efforts
toward violations, not only in proportion to the frequency of their occurrence in accident situations,
but also in terms of traffic-related needs.
500.2 TRAFFIC OFFICER DEPLOYMENT
Several factors are considered in the development of deployment schedules for officers of the
Garden Grove Police Department. Information provided by the California Statewide Integrated
Traffic Reporting System (SWITRS) is a valuable resource for traffic accident occurrences and
therefore officer deployment. Some of the factors for analysis include:
•Location
•Time
•Day
•Violation factors
All officers assigned to patrol or traffic enforcement functions will emphasize enforcement of
accident causing violations during high accident hours and at locations of occurrence. All
officers will take directed enforcement action on request, and random enforcement action when
appropriate against violators as a matter of routine. All officers shall maintain high visibility while
working general enforcement, especially at high accident locations.
Other factors to be considered for deployment are requests from the public, construction zones
or special events.
500.3 ENFORCEMENT
Enforcement actions are commensurate with applicable laws and take into account the degree
and severity of the violation committed. This department does not establish ticket quotas and
the number of arrests or citations issued by any officer shall not be used as the sole criterion
for evaluating officer overall performance (Vehicle Code § 41603). The visibility and quality of an
officer's work effort will be commensurate with the philosophy of this policy. Several methods are
effective in the reduction of collisions:
Officers will take appropriate enforcement action when and where pedestrian violations and when
and where bicycle traffic law violations are observed.
Garden Grove Police Department
Policy Manual
Traffic Function and Responsibility
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/08/15, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentTraffic Function and Responsibility - 2The enforcement actions will be commensurate with the pedestrian and bicycle accident
experience, with specific emphasis being placed on these particular violations, and at times and
places as determined through analysis of accident reports.
500.3.1 WARNINGS
Warnings or other non-punitive enforcement actions should be considered in each situation
and substituted for arrests or citations when circumstances warrant, especially in the case of
inadvertent violations.
500.3.2 CITATIONS
Citations may be issued when an officer believes it is appropriate. It is essential that officers fully
explain the rights and requirements imposed on motorists upon issuance of a citation for a traffic
violation. Officers should provide the following information at a minimum:
(a)Explanation of the violation or charge
(b)Court appearance procedure including the optional or mandatory appearance by the
motorist
(c)Notice of whether the motorist can enter a plea and pay the fine by mail or at the court
500.3.3 PHYSICAL ARREST
Physical arrest can be made on a number of criminal traffic offenses outlined in the Vehicle Code
or Penal Code. These physical arrest cases usually deal with, but are not limited to:
(a)Vehicular manslaughter
(b)Felony and misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs
(c)Felony or misdemeanor hit-and-run
(d)Refusal to sign notice to appear
(e)Any other misdemeanor at the discretion of the officer, such as reckless driving with
extenuating circumstances
500.3.4 PEDESTRIAN ENFORCEMENT
The enforcement of traffic laws pertaining to pedestrians necessitates broad discretion from
individual officers. To provide guidance in this discretion, the following procedures are established,
which should result in more uniform and consistent application of the law.
(a)Officers shall concentrate their efforts on pedestrian violations in those areas where
pedestrian accidents have been frequent and severe.
(b)With regard to pedestrian traffic laws, the "spirit" of the law shall supersede the "letter"
of the law and application be made accordingly.
Garden Grove Police Department
Policy Manual
Traffic Function and Responsibility
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/08/15, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentTraffic Function and Responsibility - 3500.3.5 BICYCLE ENFORCEMENT
(a)In those areas where congestion and the frequency of traffic accident experience
involving bicycles have been predominant, those laws pertaining to the proper
operation of bicycles shall be strictly enforced.
(b)On those arteries with a substantial flow of vehicular traffic and where hazardous
moving violations are observed involving persons operating bicycles, the applicable
laws shall be enforced.
(c)In those areas where traffic flow is minimal, visibility is unobstructed, and traffic
accident experience low, officers should exercise discretion in the application of those
laws regarding the safe operation of bicycles.
(d)Officers should be less tolerant with older offenders who should be aware of the
hazards inherent in the unsafe operation of bicycles. Officers should be more lenient in
the enforcement of the law and more instructive in their response to youthful offenders,
who may not be fully aware of their responsibility in the safe operation of bicycles.
500.4 SUSPENDED OR