Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
4.15 Traffic Law Enforcement
4.15.1 Enforcement Action (Issued: 6/25/07)
Officers should take appropriate action for each violation of traffic law witnessed or reported to
the Police Department. The ultimate goal is to achieve voluntary compliance with traffic laws
and thereby reduce the number of traffic crashes. All enforcement actions will be accomplished
in a fair, impartial and courteous manner using one of the following three methods:
A. Verbal Warning
A verbal warning is a proper alternative enforcement action by police officers in response
to some violations. Police officers may use verbal warnings at their discretion in areas in
which traffic crash potential is minimal.
B. Citations
The issuance of a traffic citation is applicable in most cases for those violators who
commit a minor traffic offense that jeopardizes the safe and efficient flow of vehicular
and pedestrian traffic, whether those violations are moving, parking or safety and
equipment violations, p ursuant to the CVC and City of San Francisco Traffic Codes and
Municipal Ordinances.
C. Physical Arrest
Officers may affect the arrest of any person in violation of a traffic crime as allowed by
the CVC. All decisions relating to physical custody must be based on sound legal
principles and consistent with General Order 4.6.4(B), “Adult Custody Procedures.”