NC BLET Techniques of Traffic Law
Enforcement
The Five Major Phases of Law Enforcement and Court Action Involved in Traffic Enforcement -
ANSDetection
Apprehension
Prosecution
Adjudication
Penalization
Detection - ANSLaw Enforcement Responsibility. In this phase, officers are constantly alert to
identifying or detecting conditions, actions, or behaviors which are improper or illegal by statute
or ordinance.
Detection- Reasonable Suspicion - ANSA 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.
Detection-Probable Cause - ANSMeasured by the Totality of Circumstances. The officer
believes that a crime was probably committed and the suspect is probably the person who
committed the crime.
Apprehension - ANSIn this phase the officer follows the offender, establishes authority for
stopping the offender, and initiates the stop.
Apprehension-Physical Arrest - ANSUsually 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 offense in the presence of the officer or the officer has
probable cause to believe a criminal offense was committed.
Detection-Components - ANSReasonable Suspicion
Probable Cause
Apprehension-Components - ANSPhysical Arrest
Traffic Citation and Citation for Infraction
Issuance of Citation for Infraction
Written Warning
Verbal Warning
, Apprehension-Traffic Citation and Citation for Infraction - ANSRequires 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 officers when summoning individuals to
court.
Apprehension-Issuance of Citation for Infraction - ANSA 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
Apprehension-Written Warning - ANSWritten documentation of a traffic violation in which an
officer directs a violators attention to a specific area without summoning him to court.
Apprehension-Verbal Warning - ANSA statement made by the officer to a violator explaining that
the action taken is against the law.
Prosecution - ANSThis phase involves the law enforcement officer and the court. The officer 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 officer then must prepare and deliver testimony of the
incident to the court during the hearing or trial.
Adjudication - ANSThe 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.
Penalization - ANSThe responsibility of the court. This phase involves the sentencing or
judgement rendered by the court if the defendant is found guilty of the charge.
Methods of Traffic Patrol and Observation of Offenses - ANSLine Patrol
Area Patrol
Directed Patrol
Stationary Observation
Conspicuous Observation
Visible Observation
Concealed Observation
Line Patrol - ANSThis form of traffic observation is made using a moving patrol car or in a
stationary observation on a specific route between two points, usually on a major street or
section of highway. Often used with time distance computers and RADAR
RADAR - ANSRAdio Detection And Ranging
Enforcement
The Five Major Phases of Law Enforcement and Court Action Involved in Traffic Enforcement -
ANSDetection
Apprehension
Prosecution
Adjudication
Penalization
Detection - ANSLaw Enforcement Responsibility. In this phase, officers are constantly alert to
identifying or detecting conditions, actions, or behaviors which are improper or illegal by statute
or ordinance.
Detection- Reasonable Suspicion - ANSA 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.
Detection-Probable Cause - ANSMeasured by the Totality of Circumstances. The officer
believes that a crime was probably committed and the suspect is probably the person who
committed the crime.
Apprehension - ANSIn this phase the officer follows the offender, establishes authority for
stopping the offender, and initiates the stop.
Apprehension-Physical Arrest - ANSUsually 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 offense in the presence of the officer or the officer has
probable cause to believe a criminal offense was committed.
Detection-Components - ANSReasonable Suspicion
Probable Cause
Apprehension-Components - ANSPhysical Arrest
Traffic Citation and Citation for Infraction
Issuance of Citation for Infraction
Written Warning
Verbal Warning
, Apprehension-Traffic Citation and Citation for Infraction - ANSRequires 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 officers when summoning individuals to
court.
Apprehension-Issuance of Citation for Infraction - ANSA 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
Apprehension-Written Warning - ANSWritten documentation of a traffic violation in which an
officer directs a violators attention to a specific area without summoning him to court.
Apprehension-Verbal Warning - ANSA statement made by the officer to a violator explaining that
the action taken is against the law.
Prosecution - ANSThis phase involves the law enforcement officer and the court. The officer 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 officer then must prepare and deliver testimony of the
incident to the court during the hearing or trial.
Adjudication - ANSThe 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.
Penalization - ANSThe responsibility of the court. This phase involves the sentencing or
judgement rendered by the court if the defendant is found guilty of the charge.
Methods of Traffic Patrol and Observation of Offenses - ANSLine Patrol
Area Patrol
Directed Patrol
Stationary Observation
Conspicuous Observation
Visible Observation
Concealed Observation
Line Patrol - ANSThis form of traffic observation is made using a moving patrol car or in a
stationary observation on a specific route between two points, usually on a major street or
section of highway. Often used with time distance computers and RADAR
RADAR - ANSRAdio Detection And Ranging
