Policy Text
Policy
500Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2020/09/04, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View 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 collision 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 collision 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
Mountain View Police Department. Information provided by the California Statewide Integrated
Traffic Reporting System (SWITRS) is a valuable resource for traffic collision 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 collision causing violations during high collision 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 collision 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:
Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Traffic Function and Responsibility
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2020/09/04, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentTraffic Function and Responsibility - 2500.3.1 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
500.4 SUSPENDED OR REVOKED DRIVERS LICENSES
If an officer contacts a traffic violator for driving on a suspended or revoked license, the officer
may issue a traffic citation pursuant to Vehicle Code § 14601.
If a computer check of a traffic violator's license status reveals a suspended or revoked driver
license and the traffic violator still has his or her license in possession, the license shall be seized
by the officer. The officer shall verbally advise the traffic violator of the suspension or revocation
and issue the citation. The officer will be responsible for filling out the Verbal Notice form (DMV
form DL-310) and causing that form and license to be forwarded to the Department of Motor
Vehicles.
500.5 HIGH-VISIBILITY VESTS
The Department has provided American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Class II high-visibility
vests to increase the visibility of department members who may be exposed to hazards presented
by passing traffic, maneuvering or operating vehicles, machinery and equipment (23 CFR 655.601;
8 CCR 1598).
Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Traffic Function and Responsibility
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2020/09/04, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentTraffic Function and Responsibility - 3Although intended primarily for use while performing traffic related assignments, high-visibility
vests should be worn at any time increased visibility would improve the safety or efficiency of the
member.
500.5.1 REQUIRED USE
Except when working in an enforcement role with inherent officer safety risks, such as during
vehicle stops, high-visibility vests should be worn at any time it is anticipated that an employee
will be exposed to the hazards of approaching traffic or construction and recovery equipment.
Examples of when high-visibility vests should be worn include traffic control duties, collision
investigations, lane closures and while at disaster scenes, or anytime high visibility is desirable.
When emergency conditions preclude the immediate donning of the vest, officers should retrieve