Policy Text
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General Order B-47 1 of 5 Traffic Direction and Control TEMPLE TERRACE POLICE
DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER EFFECTIVE DATE
02/24/2006 FILE INDEX NO.
B-47
SUBJECT: TRAFFIC DIRECTION AND CONTROL
INDEX AS: SAME AS ABOVE RESCINDS:
REVISES:
DATE REVISED: 07/19/2024
DISTRIBUTION
All MEMBERS
I. PURPOSE:
The purpose of this general order is to establish guidelines for all members tasked with directing
vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Effective c ontrol of traffic requires basic r ules to be followed for traffic
to proceed in a safe manner. Florida State Statute 316.008 provides authority for officers to control
vehicles and pedestrian traffic.
II. SCOPE:
All members
III. DISCUSSION:
Sworn members of the department shall render aid to stranded motorists; help those requiring
emergency assistance; and assist in the prevention of damage, injury, or death as the result of
hazardous materials or road conditions. It shall be the policy of the Temple Terrace Pol ice
Department to perform traffic direction and control in an efficient and courteous manner with due
regard for the safety of motorists, pedestrians, police, and other official personnel.
IV. DEFINITIONS:
A. Adverse Road and Weather Conditions - For example, de bris in the roadway, downed power
lines, fog, ice, flooding, exposed guard rails, potholes , etc.
B. Roadblock - A barricade, either fixed or moving, which is intended to preclude through -passage.
This definition does not include the actions of an officer who is manually direct ing traffic to stop
where no physical barrier or traffic control signal exist.
C. Traffic Control - The physical presence of a law enforcement officer or civilian volunteer
controlling vehicles and pedestrians.
D. Traffic Control Device - Signs, signals, markings, and devices placed or erected for the purpose
of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.
E. Traffic Control Signal - Any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by
which traffic is alternately directed to stop an d permitted to proceed.
V. PROCEDURE :
A. Authority and Duties - State law requires obedience to police and fire department officials. It is a
misdemeanor of the second degree for any person to willfully fail or refuse to comply with any
lawful order or directio ns of any police officer, or member of any fire department at the scene of
a fire, who is vested by law or ordinance with authority to direct, control, or regulate traffic.
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General Order B-47 2 of 5 Traffic Direction and Control
B. Traffic Direction and Control Duties
1. It shall be the duty of certified law enforce ment officers and other properly trained members
to facilitate the safe flow of vehicles and pedestrians by the utilization of standardized
manual traffic direction techniques.
2. Officers and other members involve d in traffic direction and control shall be r esponsible for
providing information and answering citi zen inquiries in a manner consistent with effective
duty performance.
3. Non-sworn members may be trained in the execution of traffic direction and control.
a) Training for non -sworn members will be conduct ed by an agency instructor .
b) Non-sworn members who have not received traffic direction and control training will not
execute such tasks.
c) Training of a non -sworn member will include on-the-job training (OJT) in
vehicle/pedestrian traffic control , along with a review of FSS 316.130.
C. Manual Control of Traffic
1. Criteria - Officers /member s shall exercise good judg ment in carefully weighing the necessity
of effecting manual control of traffic. Factors to be considered should include, but are not
limited to:
a) Exist ing roadway congestion
1) Estimated duration of the congested period;
b) Adverse conditions;
c) Emergency situations;
d) Traffic volume;
e) Number of pedestrians ; and
f) Manpower availability and safety.
2. Manual control of traffic should not be performed by an office r when an exist ing traffic
control device will eliminate the traffic prob lem. If manual control of traffic is performed, any
automated signals shall be turned to flash (if possible) to prevent driver/pedestrian
confusion.
3. Equipment - When engaged in manu al traffic direction control, each officer/ member shall
have access to a whistle, a flashlight, portable or mobile radio, a raincoat, hat, cones, and a
department issued reflective vest. The whistle is to be kept upon the person of the
officer /member when performing manual direction of traffic. Officers shall wear is sued
reflective vest s when engaged in the manual direction of traffic. An exception would be
during those brief periods of time when initially effecting manual traffic direction on an
emergency basis.
4. Procedure
a) Position - Officers/members should select a control position to direct traffic which
provides a full view of an intersection or incident scene to include all approaches. This
will make the officer /member readily visible to drivers and ped estrians affording
maximum safety.
b) Stance – Officers/m embers shall assume a posture at the control position which reflects
confidence, command , and courtesy.
c) Control Responsibility - When more than one officer /member is involved in manual