Policy Text
Page 1 of 13 - Gener al Order 06-03 (11/12/2024 )
STOPPING MOTORISTS
RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: STOPPING MOTORISTS
Chapter
6 Number
3 # Pages
13
CALEA Standards: 1.1.4, 1.2.6, 1.2.7, 41.2.3, 61.1.2,
61.1.4, 61. 1.5, 61.1.6 c, 61.1.7, 61.1.11
VA State Code: § 15.2-1722.1, 18.2-66, 18.2 -266.1, 18.2 -
270, 19.2 -74, 46.2 -936, 46.2 -940 Related Orders: 0 1-10, 06-
04, & 08-07 Effective Date: 11/12/2024
Revised By: Review
Prv. Rev. Date: 08/02/21
If any provision of this General Order conflicts with any collective bargaining article, the co llective
bargaini ng agreement shall govern.
Chief of Police :
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this directive is to establish the policy and procedure for stoppi ng mot orists.
II. SUMMARY OF CHANGE
The policy has been updated to reflect the department’s cu rrent data collection as required by
the Virginia Community Policing Data Act . All changes are bold and italicized.
III. POLICY
A. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a law enforcement officer has the authority to
stop and detain a motorist only when the office r has reasonable suspicion to believe that
the operator of the m otor veh icle, the occ upants of said vehicle or the motor vehicle
itself is in violation of the law.
B. It is the policy of the Richmond Police Department to provide its officers with the
proper g uidelines for safely stopping motorists. The primary concern of the offi cer
initiatin g the vehicle stop is the safety of the motorist to be stopped and their
passengers, the safety of the general public, as well as the safety of the officer.
IV. ACCOUNTABILITY STATEMENT
All employees are expected to fully comply w ith the guidel ines and time lines set forth in this
general order . Responsibility rests with the Division Commander to ensure that any violations
of policy are investigated and appropriate training, co unseling and/or disciplinary action is
initiated.
This d irective is f or internal u se only and does not enlarge an employee’s civil liability in any
way. It should not be construed as the creation of a higher standard of safety or case in a
evidentiary sens e, with respect to third party claims . Violation of this directive , if proven, can
only form the basis of a complaint by this Department, and then only in a non -judicial
administrative setting.
Page 2 of 13 - Gener al Order 06-03 (11/12/2024 )
STOPPING MOTORISTS V. PROCEDURES
A. Department of Emergency Communications , Preparedne ss and Response (DEC PR):
1. When an officer first observes a vehicle that the officer has r easonable suspicion
to stop, the officer shall notify DEC PR and provide them with the following :
a) The license plate of the vehicle, including the issuing state (if no li cense
plate is visible, then a precise description of the vehicle);
b) The location of the stop ; and,
c) The number o f occu pants that can be seen (if more than one) .
2. If the driver of the vehicle does not acknowledge the officer’s direction to stop or
increases s peed in an attempt to elude, t he officer shall immediately notify
DECPR . At this time, all other non -emergency ra dio tr ansmissions shall cease to
allow uninterrupted communication between DECPR and the officer.
3. DEC PR shall immediately advise a field superv isor of the circumstan ces and
ensure that the field supervisor monitors the situation.
B. Motor Vehicle Stops by Non-Uniformed Officers and Unmarked Poli ce Uni ts:
[CALEA 61.1.6c]
1. The operator of an unmarked police unit, if not in uniform, shal l request the
assistance of a marked police unit whenever atte mpting to stop a motor vehicle.
The unmarked unit shall maintain a safe distance while communicat ing wi th
DEC PR as to the description and location of the vehicle in question.
2. Only under extreme emergency situa tions and due to u nique investigative
situations, i.e., Narcotics, etc., shall a plain -clothes officer in an unmarked police
unit attempt to stop a motor vehicle without the assistance of a marked unit.
C. Motorists ’ Safety :
1. Particular care mus t be taken to e nsure the safety of the motorist and any
passengers, so that they are not endangered by any action of the police officer.
a) In attempting to stop a mot orist, the officer shall turn on the police vehicle’s
emergency lights and use a short blast from t he horn and/or the siren,
simultaneously, in an a ttempt to attract the motorist’s attention.
b) If the motorist still does not respond, the officer shall use th e police
vehicle’s emergency lights and the horn