Moto Unit SOP's

Motor Unit — Standard Operating Procedures

AUTHORIZATION

Law Enforcement are authorized to operate a motorcycle in an effort to perform their duties

if they meet the following criteria:

1. They possess a valid driver’s license.

2. They have successfully reached the rank of Trooper.

3. They attend and successfully complete a Motor Unit Certification course to be

cleared for full Motor Unit patrol.

DEFINITION OF A MOTOR UNIT

A single “Motor Unit” may be made up of either a motorcycle operator and a single

motorcycle, or a pair of operators and motorcycles, patrolling the same area and responding

to the same calls. Motorcycle operators will alert dispatch that they are both transitioning

their callsign to “[CALLSIGN]M” (For example, 301M (Pronounced Three-Oh-One-Motor)).

STARTING A MOTOR PATROL

A Motor Unit may only be deployed after two standard patrol units have started their tour of

duty in San Andreas, and will be expected to return to normal patrol if the number of

standard patrol vehicles falls below two.

Motorcycle operators shall, at the start of their tour of duty, inspect the motorcycle for

cleanliness and proper operation. Any deficiencies should be corrected prior to operation.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

All operators of police motorcycles shall use the following safety equipment:

1. Police-Issue Safety Helmet

2. Police-Issue Leather Boots

RESPONDING TO EMERGENCY CALLS

A Motor Unit should respond to emergency calls in the manner outlined in the primary law

enforcement Standard Operating Procedures, with an increased awareness of the safety of

the Unit due to the vulnerabilities presented by riding a motorcycle.

If it is obvious that an Emergency Call is going to require some form of transport - medical,

criminal, or otherwise - then the Motor Unit may only attach to the call once a regular patrol

vehicle has attached and has indicated that they are, or will be, enroute. The Motor Unit will

assist the primary unit in handling, processing, and clearing the scene.

During any scene where a subject is being detained, a Motor Unit must request an additional

patrol unit to their location (10-77).

A Motor Unit may never transport a 10-95 on their motorcycle, and must always request a

transport unit (10-77) for this purpose. It is important to remember that the subject in

custody is still the responsibility of the Motor Unit, and thus the Motor Unit is expected to

follow the Transport Unit, and then process their subject accordingly as they are the

arresting officer.

The operator assigned to a motorcycle shall use due regard when making a decision to

respond to emergency calls for service in consideration of the unique characteristics of the

motorcycle.

VEHICLE PURSUITS

Motorcycles are not intended to be, nor should they be considered, pursuit vehicles. Law

Enforcement motorcycles are authorized to be involved in pursuits subject to the following

Restrictions:

1. Motor Units shall only engage in a vehicle pursuit when the Unit has probable cause

to believe that any person in the vehicle has committed (or attempted to commit) a

felony or misdemeanor. Units may terminate and discontinue a pursuit when the act

of pursuit, in and of itself, creates an unreasonable danger of death or great bodily

harm to the public, law enforcement officers, or the suspect.

2. Motorcycles engaged in a pursuit shall drive with due regard and follow the pursuit

guidelines shown in their Standard Operating Procedures.

3. Due to the increased vulnerability to the operator of a motorcycle, any pursuit

initiated by the motorcycle operator should be assisted by a normal patrol car as

soon as possible.

4. If/When presented with a clear and directed threat to a Motor Unit by the fleeing

vehicle, or by some form of “interference” vehicle - such a brake checking, or

otherwise attempting to forcibly dismount the rider - this is to be considered an

attempt at using a lethal force (the physical vehicle) against a law enforcement

officer, and as such all pursuing units are authorized to use lethal force against the

vehicle(s) and their occupants.