24-9

GENERAL ORDER 24-9 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT UNIT 1 P L A N T C I T Y P O L I C E D E P A R T M E N T General Order Title TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT UNIT General Order Number 24-9 Effective: 09/21 /2020 Revised: Reviewed: CFA: PURPOSE The purpose of this directive is to establish guidelines and duties for the Traffic Management Unit (TMU) within the Plant City Police Department (PCPD) . INTENT It is the intent of the Plant City Police Department to en sure that our TMU keeps the citizens safer by enforcing traffic laws within our city . DISCUSSION The TMU is tasked with the enforcement of Florida traffic laws, traffic crash investigation as well as specialized assignments as directed by the Commander of the Uniform Pat rol Division. RULES AND PROCEDURES A. TMU Officers will focus primarily on the following: 1. Reducing traffic crashes by enforcing the Florida State Statues involving traffic violations. 2. Enforcing school zone violations and addressing traffic complaints from residents through education, engineering and enforcement. 3. TMU will be the primary responders to all traffic crashes 4. TMU will assist operations personnel when requested and deemed n ecessary by a supervisor. Planned needs or requests for the TMU Officers will necessitate approval via the chain of command. 24-9.1 DUTIES G E N E R A L O R D E R 24-9 T R A F F I C M A N A G E M E N T U N I T P a g e | 2 A. TMU Officers will primarily work daylight hours and focus on the heavy concentration of motor vehicles traveling into the city; however, hours may be changed to address specific needs. B. TMU Officers will make every effort to have their motorcycles available, clean and in optimum working condition for their shift. C. Because of continual changing weather conditions and the existence of hazardous road conditions or excessively cold weather, the TMU O fficer will make the determination whether to ride the motorcycl e or return to the police station to obtain a police car for the remainder of their shift. A. Initial motorcycle training will consist of 80 hours of comprehensive training through Plant City Police Departments Motorcycle Training Instructors or by attending a similar Law Enforcement Motorcycle Training Course. Upon successful completion of the cou rse, the new Motor Officer will be assigned to an instructor/veteran TMU Officer (at the TMU Sergeant’s discretion) for a period of at least four weeks for on -the-job training. Each FTO TMU Officer will complete a weekly evaluation sheet rating the office r’s performance. B. All TMU Officers will attend and successfull y complete a mandatory one day, in-service training session on a monthly basis which includes braking and crash avoidance. Each officer will be required to successfully complet e a daytime qualif ication course which includes braking, crash avoidance and obstacle course. If any officer misses two consecutive sessions or more, he/she will have to undergo a riding skills evaluation by a member of the motorcycle training staff and receive approval to ride by the Motor Sergeant. 1. The Commander of the Uniform Patrol Division has the authority to reschedule training do to unforeseen shortages in patrol shifts. C. Motor officers who are off the motorcycle for an extended period of time (three months or more and less than two years) will be re -evaluated and must successful ly complete the Plant City Police TMU re-certification. At the discretion of the motorcycle training staff, the motorcycle officer may be required to successfully complete a 40 hour Basic P olice Motorcycle Operator Refresher course. Motor officers or Motor supervisors who are off the motorcycle for two years or more must successfully complete the 80 hour Basic Police Motorcycle Operator course. D. Only officers who have been departmentally ce rtified or those who have been departmentally selected for the Motor Unit and attending the Police Motorcycle Operator School will be permitted to operate a city owned/leased motorcycle. Those chosen for this school may only operate the motorcycle under th e supervision of a certified Motor instructor. 24-9.2 HOURS AND LIMITATIONS OF OPERATIONS 24-9.3 TRAINING G E N E R A L O R D E R 24-9 T R A F F I C M A N A G E M E N T U N I T P a g e | 3 A. No Motor officer will train by themselves. At least two Motor officers will be present during any motorcycle training. B. Officers are required to have in his/her possession an authorized firearm and radio at all times while operating a police motorcycle. C. Over the ankle footwear is required while operating a police motorcycle. Soft tennis shoes/sneakers are not authorized. D. Proper training attire will include long pants (i.e. M otor uniform pants, BDU’s or other suitable clothing). Shirts worn will reflect the professionalism of th e Plant City Police Department and its Traffic Management Unit. E. The operation of the motorcycle must be in a safe and prudent manner. Motorcycles are not to engage in a motor vehicle pursuit, unless specifically authorized by a supervisor. The TMU Motor office r will abide by General Order 19-1 regarding vehicle pursuits and relinquish the pursuit to a police vehicle as soon