Traffic Division
Traffic Division Standard Operating Procedures
The Traffic Division is an elite unit dedicated to protecting the streets of Los Santos. It has a number of sub units, and functions, which together make up the whole unit. Those sub units are the Multidisciplinary Collision Investigation Team, the Traffic Enforcement Team, the motor unit, and the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit. They have a number of jobs including traffic collision investigation, speed enforcement, DUI enforcement, traffic law enforcement, traffic control, and commercial vehicle enforcement. They also have the largest percentage of units in the fleet with traffic equipment like on board or hand held radars, push bumpers, and ALPR (automatic license plate readers).
Other Traffic Units
San Andreas has numerous other traffic units state wide across multiple departments, which have a variety of tasks. Following is a breakdown of their jurisdictions and roles.
Los Santos County Sheriffs Department Traffic Services Unit: Investigates traffic collisions involving property damage, injury, or death within Los Santos County, but not the City of Los Santos. They operate a motor unit which performs county wide patrol, motorcades and escorts. The unit also runs DUI/Drivers license checkpoints.
Del Perro Police Department Traffic Enforcement Unit: Runs operations targeting aggressive driving, distracted driving, DUI, bicycle and Pedestrian safety within the City of Del Perro.
San Andreas Highway Patrol: while this department is an all around traffic based department, they have a few specialized units such as the Multi Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) which investigates any traffic collisions in Blaine County, Rockford Hills, Del Perro, as well as any accident on a highway/freeway or officer involved collisions resulting in injury or death within Los Santos County. The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit runs Commercial Vehicle checkpoints, truck inspections on the road, and assists in commercial vehicle accidents and related incidents anywhere in the state with the exception of the City of Los Santos. Lastly, the motor unit has a number of functions including state wide patrol, motorcades, escorts, and special traffic detail.
UNIFORMS
All officers working within the traffic division are required to wear traffic patches on either shoulder. The rest of the uniform is to follow LSPD standards.
The San Andreas Highway Patrol, one of the few other agencies in San Andreas with a traffic unit and special uniforms for said unit requires their officers to wear Navy Utilities for MAIT and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement duties.
Neither the LSSD or the DPPD have special uniforms for their traffic units.
All units require scene safety and as a result officers must wear high visibility vests when in a roadway that is either partially or fully locked down.
VEHICLES
Follow the Vehicle Structure spreadsheet.
DUTIES
Traffic Enforcement
Traffic units where applicable are responsible for maintaining traffic laws. Traffic laws follow under section 8 of the penal code. Traffic unit supervisors may decide to spend time focusing on specific traffic violations in certain areas as part of a sting operation. DUI task forces may be formed to run DUI checkpoints late at night in order to stop impaired drivers. DUI task forces and traffic stings must be approved by a supervisor.
Sting operations
Consist of 2-3 or more units. One unit is set up visibly in a problem area and remains on the lookout for a traffic infraction. Another unit is hidden nearby and is responsible for stopping the offender. Motor units are quite often used in this role. When operating a sting, units may use their own channel but need to keep an eye on their radio in case a help call is transmitted.
When an offender is spotted, the unit that spotted the infraction must call out the colour, make, model, type of car if possible, the direction of travel, the license plate, and then the specific infraction e.g. '50' (50 in a 35).
Note: Sting operations should not focus on enforcing specific traffic laws in areas where the AI do not follow that specific law themselves.
DUI checkpoints
Consist of 3 units or more, and an RA if possible. The checkpoint must be conducted late at night (between midnight and sunrise) and also must occur in an area where as little traffic will be impeded as possible, even off the road in an unused lane if possible. Checkpoints need to be lined roadside with cones in a fashion that slows down and restricts traffic flow, and scene lighting must be used to ensure the work area is well lit. At least 3 patrol cars must be in the area, with one parked near the entrance to the checkpoint, one parked near the vehicle stop area, and one parked at the exit to serve as a chase car. All cars with the exception of the chase car should have their emergency equipment activated.
One officer must be stationed at the entrance equipped with a high visibility vest and will be responsible for flagging drivers down and directing them to the stop location. Social media posts should be frequently posted to ensure that citizens are aware they need to stop for the checkpoint, but the exact location of the checkpoint does not need to be broadcasted. Any non-local civilian who fails to stop at the checkpoint must be stopped by the chase car. The officer stopping cars at the checkpoint may follow all the steps of DUI recognition like they would on a regular stop. If the driver does not exhibit signs of being under the influence or does not admit to being under the influence they may be allowed to continue.
CVE Checkpoints
Same setup as DUI checkpoints with a few notable exceptions; CVE officers must conduct the full inspection process however non commercial units may assist in directing traffic or intercepting passer bys, and it must be run during the day for officer safety.
Speed Enforcement
Traffic units which run speed enforcement have either on board speed cameras or hand held speed cameras. Older units and motorcycles generally only have hand speed cameras. For units with built in cameras, normal operation of the radar may be used. For units that need to use a hand radar, only the front camera on the script should be activated, and it should not be activated while the vehicle is in motion. While enforcing speed, units should not park in private areas or driveways, but may park in public parking lots. They must be parked nearby the roadway but not obstruct the roadway and need to be visible for about 200' in either direction.
DIVISION SPECIFIC SKILLS
DUI Recognition And Testing
Detection
In order to determine if an individual is DUI, Officers must prove that:
The individual was in control
The individual was in a vehicle
The individual was operating within the State of San Andreas
The individual was under the influence of drugs or alcohol
The officer should be able to prove that the individual’s ability to operate a vehicle was impaired due to an altered state of mind caused by the intake of drugs or alcohol.
Reason to perform a field sobriety test /probable cause to arrest a suspected impaired driver is assumed under any of the following circumstances:
observed driving behaviour is erratic
driver is slurring their speech
driver’s attitude or appearance indicates they are under the influence
there is the presence of open containers or drugs in the vehicle
The officer must follow the following steps to determine whether they can legally make a DUI arrest
Observe the vehicle in motion-is there cause to stop the vehicle?
Interacting with the driver-is there reason to ask them to step out of the vehicle?
Performing further screening-after performing a standardized field sobriety test (SFST) is there probable cause to arrest the suspect?
Note: The situation may not be totally clear-some situations may only allow an officer to make decisions from step 2 on (e.g. the vehicle is being pulled over for a different reason or was involved in a collision) or may omit step 3 (if the patient was transported to hospital or the officer was unable to perform the SFST)
Items to note for each step
Step 1: The vehicle in question is crossing lines or swerving, turning widely, stopping inappropriately (too late, early, or for no reason), vehicle is in opposite lanes of traffic, vehicle has struck something, signals are contrary to actions, lights are not on, slow speed, or driving on an area not designated as a roadway.
Step 2:How does the driver respond to your questions (is speech slurred, are the answers coherent), do you smell alcohol or drugs (or ‘cover-up’ odors), if they are asked to step out, how do they walk? Bloodshot eyes? Are they unable to coordinate their hand/ finger movement? Is there presence of alcohol containers or paraphernalia? Fails to answer a question or complete a task fully (eg remembering both license and registration)?
Step 3: Did the suspect fail either the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, the walk and turn, or the one leg stand? (3 FST’s)
Testing
Individuals may refuse to take a chemical test, however their license may be suspended as a result.
Individuals who test 0.08 or higher on the Preliminary Breath Test are considered ‘under the influence’. PBTs are done with the use of a Preliminary Alcohol Screening Device (PAS). Can only determine if alcohol is the cause of the suspect’s impairment. Is completed before arrest. Should not be administered until at least 15 minutes after the stop has occurred (after the FSTs).
Admittance of FSTs
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus-use your finger or other object. Instruct the suspect to follow the object from side to side with their eyes only which is held about 15 inches from their nose. Instruct them to remove their eyeglasses and ask if they have any issues with their eyes. If their answer is yes, do not conduct this test. Failure of the test consists of the suspect turning their whole head, or the suspect’s eyes ‘twitching’ as they attempt to follow the object. This usually indicates a high BAC, and can be caused by alcohol, depressants, inhalants, and some anesthetics.
Walk and turn-Have the suspect stand ‘T-pose’ while listening to instructions. Instruct the suspect to take 9 straight heel-toe steps and turn with the foot opposite to the foot that completed the final step. Failure to complete this task occurs if the suspect is in danger of falling down or does not follow the instructions.
One leg stand-Have the suspect stand still with their arms at their side while listening to the instructions. Have the suspect raise one leg straight into the air about 6 inches from the ground and count (one thousand one, one thousand two….) for 30 seconds (timed by officer). The suspect fails the test if they are unable to follow and complete the instructions.
Note: neither leg-related test may be completed if the suspect has trouble walking from a previous injury, illness, or disability.
Traffic Collision Investigation
Ensure road is properly blocked off, and any injured parties are attended to.
Ensure all vehicles are secure and no longer hazardous, all engines should be off and batteries disconnected if the vehicle is no longer driveable
Determine the parties involved and collect their information, injuries if applicable
Perform DUI Recognition test if you believe a suspect is intoxicated
Determine damage to the vehicles (location, amount, severity) and take photos
Determine the cause of the accident and at fault parties
Determining the cause of the accident:
Attempt to determine how the accident occurred through various evidence
Skid marks or lack there of can be used to determine how fast a car was moving before it hit its brakes, whether or not the driver attempted to brake. Distance can be determined with a measuring wheel, and calculations can be completed to determine the previously mentioned factors. You don’t have to actually do the calculations, but just roleplay measuring the marks and doing the calculations, then ask the person(s) involved what their speed was when they braked. Eg: /me measures the length of the skid marks and attempts to calculate the speed of the vehicle when it started braking, what do I get?
Post Collision Speedometer Readings will not give you the vehicles actual speed during the accident but may be helpful for getting a rough estimate of that speed
Determine the orientation of the vehicles at impact through location of debris and associated damage on vehicles
Collect statements of witnesses and parties to determine how the accident happened and use available evidence at the scene to supplement or disprove the statements.
If necessary and possible, collect security cam footage of the accident.
Determine if any traffic laws were broken by any of the drivers
Determining the driver at fault:
Any driver who hits the back of another driver’s vehicle are automatically at fault.
Any driver who is discovered to be DUI is automatically at fault in the accident.
A driver who has broken a traffic law which is proved through investigation to be the cause of the accident is automatically at fault in the accident
A driver’s previous history (citations, warnings, etc) do not play a role in determining the at-fault driver
There can only be one at-fault driver in the accident, unless there is sufficient evidence to prove that both drivers were committing infractions that were identical in severity. If this is not the case, the driver which has either committed more infractions or a more egregious infraction is the at fault driver.
In single vehicle collisions, there is no at-fault driver as long as there are no persons injured, or property damaged.
Laying charges:
Drivers found to be at fault in the accident are to be noted on the report
At fault drivers will only receive charges if they are found to have broken a traffic law or the other party is injured.
Drivers who are not at-fault in the accident may still receive charges if they are found to have broken a traffic law.
For any accident where police are called, and repairs will cost more than $1000 but there has been no injury or death or violation of traffic laws, a report will be submitted to each driver’s insurance agency with the crash report attached stating the at fault driver and the reasoning. No further action is required.
Commercial Vehicle Inspection
Driver Records
Ensure license, registration, insurance is clear valid and current
Examine log book, determine when recent maintenance occured, if morning inspection occured, and if driver has adhered to maximum travel time.
Examine shipping manifest, ensure cargo matches up to the list and is not overweight
Physical Inspection
Ensure the load is properly secured
Ensure vehicle is under weight limit
Ensure Cargo matches manifest
Ensure all lights on the vehicle are working
Ensure the tires are fully inflated and have sufficient tread
Ensure trailer connections are secure
Ensure that the vehicle does not have any leaks, holes, or structural damage
Ensure air brakes are properly working
Motorbike Unit
Performing Traffic stops:
Must park at a greater than 45 degree angle to the curb or side of the road
MDT is located in a side or top compartment
High risk situations
In a shots fired situation, if possible, motorbike officers should perform perimeter security duties or traffic control, however can assist officers if absolutely necessary.
If being shot at, officers can use their motorbike for cover, allowing it to fall over or using the back of the bike or engine block for cover.
Motorbike officers may carry approved shotguns, or UPRs on their motorbikes, sans equipment authorised only for ERG. Motorbike officers do not carry less than lethal shotguns.
Motorbike officers do not use or have outer vests.
Pursuits
Motorbikes are generally discouraged from maintaining a primary position in a pursuit, however should become primary if the suspect is operating a bicycle, motorcycle, are ducking into narrow places, or may become primary if the lead vehicle is out of the pursuit until the tertiary unit can take over and pass.
Inclement weather
Motorbikes are not authorized in heavy rain or snowy conditions. If an officer has started their shift as motor patrol before the weather conditions occur they may either perform desk duties or take a traffic car out while wearing their motor uniform (without the helmet). If the forecast is calling for heavy rain or snow, the officer is to go on duty as a regular traffic officer with a regular uniform. In instances of light rain, the officer may continue to patrol on motorcycle with the use of a jacket, and optional rain pants.