Policy Text
Departmental Memorandum
Volume 23 -7
To: All Personnel Katherine Lester, Chief of Police
From: Professional Standards Unit
Page 1 of 1
AB2773
Peace Officer Notifications During Enforcement Stops
12-23-2023
There is currently a general order being drafted to cover traffic stops. This memorandum shall be effective
immediately upon publication and serv es to fulfil the requirements of AB2773 until the order is published. Please
direct your questions to the Professional Standards Unit.
Assembly Bill (AB) 2773
AB2773 was signed into law September 29, 2022 and takes effect January 1, 2024. The bill amends
and adds sections to both the Government and Vehicle Code regarding enforcement stops made by
officers and information that will be included in the California Driver’s Handbook . AB2773 requires the
department to report additional information to the California Department of Justice ( DOJ) and requires
officers to provide certain information to persons during enforcement stops. The updated requirements
are posted for the public ’s information on the DOJ website.
Currently, the department collects and submits data to DOJ pursuant to California Government Code
§12525.5, under the Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA). AB2773 amends sub-section (b)(3) to
include, “The reason given to the person stopped at the time of the stop.” The RIPA entry update for
2024 will include this as a required field to be completed.
AB2773 also adds § 2806.5 to the California Vehicle Code (VC) which reads as follows:
2806.5. (a) A peace officer making a traffic or pedestrian stop, before (emphasis added)
engaging in questioning related to a criminal investigation or traffic violation, shall state the reason for the stop. The officer shall document the reason for the stop on any citation or police
report resulting from the stop.
(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply when the officer reasonably believes that withholding the
reason for the stop is necessary to protect life or property from imminent threat, including, but not
limited to, cases of terrorism or kidnapping.
Effective immediately , officers who make a traffic or pedestrian stop shall, before engaging in
questioning related to a criminal investigation or traffic violation, state the reason for the stop unless
the officer reasonably believes that withholding the reason for the stop is necessary to protect life or
property from imminent threat , and shall document the reason for the stop on any citation or police
report resulting from the stop.
__________________________________
CLAYTON BUCHANAN, CAPTAIN
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
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