Policy Text
Public Carrier/Commercial Vehicle Violations - No special consideration is given to public carrier
or commercial vehicles.
Traffic Violations - To determine which method of enforcement is necessary, the officer should
consider the seriousness of the violation, any hazardous conditions created by the violation,
surrounding traffic, the presence of pedestrians, and weather and road conditions
III. ENFORCEMENT TACTICS:
A. The agency’s traffic enforcement tactics are directed toward those violations that most often
result in traffic crashes.
B. The Traffic Section Sergeant will communicate with the Traffic Engineering Department to
discuss complaints or suggestions concerning traffic engineering deficiencies and procedures
for transmitting collision and enforcement data to local or regional traffic engineering
authorities.
C. Officers will utilize marked police cars or marked police motorcycles while working general
enforcement. In all cases, enforcement vehicles are equipped with emergency lights and
sirens.
D.
While working selective enforcement from a stationary position, the officer will not select an
area of partial concealment on private property or areas that would imperil the officer or
the motoring public when the officer enters the roadway.
E. When working an area where a recurring traffic problem exists and the enforcement units
are in plain sight of the motorists, all vehicles will be parked in such a manner that the normal
traffic flow is not impeded.
IV. RADAR AND LASER DETECTION:
A. The agency will only utilize speed measuring devices in compliance with Florida
Statues 316.1905 (speed calculation devices) and 316.1906 (radar speed measuring devices)
and Florida Administrative Code of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles,
Chapter 15B-2.
B. Radar /laser operators are responsible for the proper care and maintenance of the detection
units.
C. Radar/laser units are calibrated and recertified every six months as specified in FSS 316.1905.
D. Maintenance and calibration records for all speed measurement devices are kept in the Traffic
Section.
Original issue: December 2, 1988 Traffic Warnings, Citations, and Arrests
Revised: January 5, 2018 SOP III-29
E. Radar/laser operators will complete an approved operator school, and receive certification
through the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.
F. The radar/laser operator will record the radar or laser unit number on traffic citations and
maintain a radar/laser test log in accordance with Florida Administrative Code 15B-2,
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV).
V. UNMARKED VEHICLES FOR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT:
A. The Traffic Section Supervisor may deem it necessary to utilize unmarked vehicles to enforce
traffic laws in areas where traffic crashes or violations have been reported.
B. Unmarked vehicles used for traffic enforcement must be equipped with suitable emergency
lights and a siren.
VI. WARNING THE VIOLATOR:
A. An officer should issue a written warning for a traffic violation.
1. An officer should issue a verbal warning only if circumstances dictate the officer must leave
the scene.