Informing of CHP during traffic stop

[ProShooter]

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Goliath wrote:

ProShooter wrote:

Perhaps a clarification is in order, but I disagree with part of that as well..

In addition to 12 years of being a LEO myself, I also spent some years "behind the microphone". What I should have spelled out, was that when an officer runs a plate, they find out if you have a CHP because it is anormal and standard practice for a dispatcher to first run the tag, then run the registered owner's DL info for validity, then to run the registered owner for local wants and warrants as well as through NCIC (and VCIN in Virginia - other states call it something different).

I have never heard of a law barring a dispatcher from doing this. Its all part of officer safety. If someone comes up clean, there is usually a response that the person is "clear all the way around". As a dispatch supervisor, if I saw a dispatcher not run someone all the way, I'd get on their butt. The officers expect it, and its a standard practice for any department that I ever worked for, whether as a civilian dispatcher or a sworn LEO.

Well, I am going to disagree with you. I have almost 20 years as a communications officer. I am also a NCIC/VCIN Instructor and a General Instructor through CJIS. Running the registered owner when we run a tag IS NOT part of our policy. Unless you know who is driving that car, you don't have the right to summarily run that persons OL. Doing so may subject you to civil and criminal liability under 18.2-152.3 and 18.2-152.7.

As the night shift supervisor, if I see one of my people doing it, I will be on their butt for doing it. I don't know what agency you were with, but unless there was a written policy then someones butt could be in a sling.

Officers cannot legally just run your your plate on a fishing expedition without a reason either. For those who are interested, you can go to DMV and they will give you a printout of when and by which agency your plate was run.

Well, while I didnt spend as much time as you behind the microphone, I did do 2 and a half years part time for one police department, 2 years full time as a Lead Police Dispatcher in charge of my shift, and then served as a EMD/911 Tele-communicator for a regional PSAP that dispatched 6 different police departments. Add to that 12 years on the other side of the mic as sworn law enforcement.

We would routinely run a plate through DMV, switch to the registered owner and run his DL, check the plate through NCIC for wants/warrants, and check the registered owner for warrants. All of this needed to be done within a minute so that you could return the info back to the officer.

I fail to see how the statutes that you offered could be construed to find fault with a dispatcher running info on traffic stops. Its a matter of officer safety. The 2 most dangerous things that LEO's deal with daily are traffic stops and domestic disputes. It has absolutely nothing to do with invading anyone's privacy, nor is it a fishing expedition. Its called being thorough and looking out for your guys on the road. A traffic stop is based on probable cause that a violation has been commited. The information you provide helps an officer in the field with critical info that he needs. We had no policies in place authorizing it, because quite frankly it should be a matterof common sense.

 

[xd.40]

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What do we tell them when they laugh at us and tell us to stop wasting their time? Is there some code that we can cite to make them give it to us? Just wondering... Is this information that is on a normal driving record printout (I know you can get one of those...)

 

[xd.40]

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I do know that in California that the Registered Owner (RO) gets run as the officer calls in the plate when he initiates the stop. Usually the dispatcher waits until the officer identifies the driver to confirm that the driver is the RO. It saves time and if there is anything that sticks out, the dispatcher can notify the officer for his/her safety...

 

[Goliath]

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xd.40 wrote:

What do we tell them when they laugh at us and tell us to stop wasting their time? Is there some code that we can cite to make them give it to us? Just wondering... Is this information that is on a normal driving record printout (I know you can get one of those...)

I don't know about you, but I would be asking to speak to a supervisor.

 

[DrMark]

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Thank you to those that addressed my question.

So it appears that we can choose not to disclose our CHP during a traffic stop for the same reason we can choose to OC: not because those choices are specifically allowed by code, but because there is no code forbidding those choices.

Thanks.

 

[2a4all]

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There has been a lot of discussion about checking the R/O's D/L against various databases, but isn't the real issue with the driver, who may or may not be the R/O?

What if the R/O doesn't have a D/L (e.g. a corporation)?

The LEO only learns of your CHP if your D/L is checked (or you tell him/her). If you are the R/O and have a CHP, and you're not in the car, did you just get illegally (or at least inappropriately) background checked?

 

[doug23838]

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Silentman wrote:

I have driven into Canada a number of times, both before and after obtaining my Virginia CHP. Before I had my CHP, I may have been asked if I had a gun, but I am not sure whether or not I was asked. If I was asked, it was probably a perfunctory question that I don’t recall. However, after I had my CHP, the three times I have driven into Canada I was asked repeatedly if I had a gun. In one case (prior to 9/11/01) I was asked five times if I had a gun. The first question would be general, as “Are you transporting any guns?” followed by generic questions like “Where are you traveling to?”, then suddenly, “Are you sure you aren’t carrying any guns?” more generic questions, and then “There are severe penalties for transporting weapons illegally in Canada; are you positive you’re not carrying any guns?”

You should have responded: "So..whatta ya' need? You guys need something? I can hook you up. Sigs? Uzi? AK's ? Maybe some .50 cals. Look I know this guy Vinnie thatknows this guy Carmine...."

 

[ODA 226]

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I a matter of personal discourse, I always inform the officer that stopped me that I am legally armed and have my CHP, DL and registration ready to give to him before he comes to my window. It lessens the chance of any "misunderstandings".

 

[ProShooter]

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doug23838 wrote:

Silentman wrote:

I have driven into Canada a number of times, both before and after obtaining my Virginia CHP. Before I had my CHP, I may have been asked if I had a gun, but I am not sure whether or not I was asked. If I was asked, it was probably a perfunctory question that I don’t recall. However, after I had my CHP, the three times I have driven into Canada I was asked repeatedly if I had a gun. In one case (prior to 9/11/01) I was asked five times if I had a gun. The first question would be general, as “Are you transporting any guns?” followed by generic questions like “Where are you traveling to?”, then suddenly, “Are you sure you aren’t carrying any guns?” more generic questions, and then “There are severe penalties for transporting weapons illegally in Canada; are you positive you’re not carrying any guns?”

You should have responded: "So..whatta ya' need? You guys need something? I can hook you up. Sigs? Uzi? AK's ? Maybe some .50 cals. Look I know this guy Vinnie thatknows this guy Carmine...."

Doug - you forgot to say "Eh?" at the end of each of the sentences.....

 

[ProShooter]

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ODA 226 wrote:

I a matter of personal discourse, I always inform the officer that stopped me that I am legally armed and have my CHP, DL and registration ready to give to him before he comes to my window. It lessens the chance of any "misunderstandings".

We generally recommend against retrieving any of your paperwork before the officer gets to the vehicle as that can be construed as a furtive movement on the part of the driver, but to each his own.

 

[xd.40]

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ProShooter wrote:

ODA 226 wrote:

I a matter of personal discourse, I always inform the officer that stopped me that I am legally armed and have my CHP, DL and registration ready to give to him before he comes to my window. It lessens the chance of any "misunderstandings".

We generally recommend against retrieving any of your paperwork before the officer gets to the vehicle as that can be construed as a furtive movement on the part of the driver, but to each his own.

That's why all of my paperwork is in the passenger side visor, clearly in view when the officer stops me. (Other than my DL and CHP)

 

[ed]

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I don't tell my students what THEY should do.. I tell them what I WOULD DO and what I would not do..

I would tell the officer calmly that I was armed.. but I would not yell out as soon as he got to my window "I'VE GOT A GUN!!!!"

 

[marshaul]

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ed wrote:

I would tell the officer calmly that I was armed.. but I would not yell out as soon as he got to my window "I'VE GOT A GUN!!!!"

You mean, I should adopt a new approach to traffic stops? :shock:

 

[ed]

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Yeah..(if you wanna use your approach more than once)

 

[ODA 226]

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ProShooter wrote:

ODA 226 wrote:

I a matter of personal discourse, I always inform the officer that stopped me that I am legally armed and have my CHP, DL and registration ready to give to him before he comes to my window. It lessens the chance of any "misunderstandings".

We generally recommend against retrieving any of your paperwork before the officer gets to the vehicle as that can be construed as a furtive movement on the part of the driver, but to each his own.

I have everything packaged together. It can be accessed in 5 seconds, before the officer exits his vehicle and everything is in plain sight.