1. The Five Major Phases of Law Enforcement and Court Action Involved in
Traffic Enforcement: Detection
Apprehension
Prosecution
Adjudication
Penaliẓation
2. Detection: Law Enforcement Responsibility. In this phase, oflcers are constantly alert to identifying or detecting
conditions, actions, or behaviors which are improper or illegal by statute or ordinance.
3. Detection- Reasonable Suspicion: A vehicle may be stopped based
on -A Legal Standard less than Probable Cause. Must be
based on articulable facts that the suspect is or was engaged in criminal activity.Based on Totality of circumstances
and more than a hunch.
4. Detection-Probable Cause: Measured by the Totality of Circumstances. The oflcer believes that a crime
was probably committed and the suspect is probably the person who committed the crime.
5. Apprehension: In this phase the oflcer follows the ottender, establishes authority for stopping the ottender,
and initiates the stop.
6. Apprehension-Physical Arrest: Usually reserved for serious misdemeanor cases such as DWI or
driving with license revoked. It can also be used when subject has no viable form of ID, or when the subject committed a
criminal ottense in the presence of the oflcer or the oflcer has probable cause to believe a criminal ottense was
committed.
7. Detection-Components: Reasonable Suspicion
,Probable Cause
8. Apprehension-Components: Physical Arrest
Traflc Citation and Citation for Infraction
Issuance of Citation for Infraction
Written Warning
Verbal Warning
9. Apprehension-Traffic Citation and Citation for Infraction: Requires a person to appear in
court and answer a misdemeanor or infraction charge or charges. This type of enforcement action is the most frequent
used by law enforcement oflcers when summoning individuals to court.
, 10. Apprehension-Issuance of Citation for Infraction: A citation issued for a a noncriminal
violation of law not punishable by imprisonment. Directs and requires a person to appear in court and answer to the
charge, as outlined. INDIVIDUALS CANNOT BE ARRESTED FOR AN INFRACTION
11. Apprehension-Written Warning: Written documentation of a traflc violation in which an
oflcer directs a violators attention to a specific area without summoning him to court.
12. Apprehension-Verbal Warning: A statement made by the oflcer to a violator explaining that the
action taken is against the law.
13. Prosecution: This phase involves the law enforcement oflcer and the court. The oflcer is responsible for
identifying and gathering evidence, making the appropriate charge, preparing a complete and accurate report of the
incident, and presenting all of the evidence and the complete report to the prosecutor. The oflcer then must prepare
and deliver testimony of the incident to the court during the hearing or trial.
14. Adjudication: The responsibility of the court. This phase involves the determination of responsibility of the
accused by the magistrate, judge, or jury. That is whether the defendant is guilty or not for misdemeanors or felonies,
or responsible or not for infractions. This occurs after the prosecution phase.
15. Penaliẓation: The responsibility of the court. This phase involves the sentencing or judgement rendered by
the court if the defendant is found guilty of the charge.
16. Methods of Traffic Patrol and Observation of Offenses: Line Patrol
Area Patrol
Directed Patrol
Stationary Observation
Conspicuous Observation
Visible Observation
Concealed Observation
Traffic Enforcement: Detection
Apprehension
Prosecution
Adjudication
Penaliẓation
2. Detection: Law Enforcement Responsibility. In this phase, oflcers are constantly alert to identifying or detecting
conditions, actions, or behaviors which are improper or illegal by statute or ordinance.
3. Detection- Reasonable Suspicion: A vehicle may be stopped based
on -A Legal Standard less than Probable Cause. Must be
based on articulable facts that the suspect is or was engaged in criminal activity.Based on Totality of circumstances
and more than a hunch.
4. Detection-Probable Cause: Measured by the Totality of Circumstances. The oflcer believes that a crime
was probably committed and the suspect is probably the person who committed the crime.
5. Apprehension: In this phase the oflcer follows the ottender, establishes authority for stopping the ottender,
and initiates the stop.
6. Apprehension-Physical Arrest: Usually reserved for serious misdemeanor cases such as DWI or
driving with license revoked. It can also be used when subject has no viable form of ID, or when the subject committed a
criminal ottense in the presence of the oflcer or the oflcer has probable cause to believe a criminal ottense was
committed.
7. Detection-Components: Reasonable Suspicion
,Probable Cause
8. Apprehension-Components: Physical Arrest
Traflc Citation and Citation for Infraction
Issuance of Citation for Infraction
Written Warning
Verbal Warning
9. Apprehension-Traffic Citation and Citation for Infraction: Requires a person to appear in
court and answer a misdemeanor or infraction charge or charges. This type of enforcement action is the most frequent
used by law enforcement oflcers when summoning individuals to court.
, 10. Apprehension-Issuance of Citation for Infraction: A citation issued for a a noncriminal
violation of law not punishable by imprisonment. Directs and requires a person to appear in court and answer to the
charge, as outlined. INDIVIDUALS CANNOT BE ARRESTED FOR AN INFRACTION
11. Apprehension-Written Warning: Written documentation of a traflc violation in which an
oflcer directs a violators attention to a specific area without summoning him to court.
12. Apprehension-Verbal Warning: A statement made by the oflcer to a violator explaining that the
action taken is against the law.
13. Prosecution: This phase involves the law enforcement oflcer and the court. The oflcer is responsible for
identifying and gathering evidence, making the appropriate charge, preparing a complete and accurate report of the
incident, and presenting all of the evidence and the complete report to the prosecutor. The oflcer then must prepare
and deliver testimony of the incident to the court during the hearing or trial.
14. Adjudication: The responsibility of the court. This phase involves the determination of responsibility of the
accused by the magistrate, judge, or jury. That is whether the defendant is guilty or not for misdemeanors or felonies,
or responsible or not for infractions. This occurs after the prosecution phase.
15. Penaliẓation: The responsibility of the court. This phase involves the sentencing or judgement rendered by
the court if the defendant is found guilty of the charge.
16. Methods of Traffic Patrol and Observation of Offenses: Line Patrol
Area Patrol
Directed Patrol
Stationary Observation
Conspicuous Observation
Visible Observation
Concealed Observation
