GOING BEYOND THE TRAFFIC VIOLATION

This article seeks to motivate peace officers to look beyond the traffic stop by providing a list of indicators and detection approaches associated with criminal activity. The benefits for looking beyond the initial traffic or equipment violation when conducting a traffic stop are many: reduction of traffic crashes as a result of other drivers viewing the traffic stop and modifying/improving their driving style, even if short-term; social media postings across numerous smart phone applications alerting motorists to proactive traffic enforcement activities; reduction of other roadway-linked crimes such as car thefts, entering autos, motor vehicle hijackings, transportation of stolen goods and burglaries as criminals see the aggressive enforcement; and a reduction of unregistered, unsafe and uninsured vehicles and unlicensed/suspended drivers on the roadways.

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