Every car stop made by a police officer is a potential criminal investigation. Most car stops are short in duration and result in a verbal warning. Sometimes the police officer issues a citation for a violation of the rules of the road such as speed or running a stop sign. The officer has the discretion to do either. Generally in Londonderry warnings for traffic offenses are given three to four times more often than citations. At the LPD the decision to warn or cite is made based on the seriousness of the offense and the prioritization of education over enforcement. In other words we believe that the driver should be educated about the need to change their behavior before the heavier hand of enforcement is brandished.
Even when an officer makes a 'routine' car stop, it is anything but routine. She is always aware of safety: the driver's, the passenger's and her own. For the officer each stop is a walk into the unknown. The driver is unknown; does he have a record of any kind? What is his temperament? Is he armed? Is there contraband in the car? Are there passengers? What is their status? Does the driver have medical concerns? Are there any characteristics that match any of the information received at Roll Call today? When the cop approaches the car all of these questions are unanswered.
Today Officer Chenowyth has stopped a Ford Excursion for poor lane control (weaving in the lane of traffic) and speed (56 in a 40, on radar). As she approaches the car, the investigation begins and the questions begin to be answered. She approaches with professionalism and a health dose of caution. While danger may lurk in the car, it is more likely to come from a car driving by not paying attention. Most often the police officer will come up on the driver's side; some officers feel more comfortable on the passenger's side. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. It is safer for the officer on the passenger side, but it may be more awkward to speak with the driver or gather clues if a 'routine' car stop turns into something more. As she gets closer she looks in the cabin of the car for other passengers that may not be visible from her police car (for example toddlers), contraband or a weapon.
Most of the time the officer will stop just behind the driver's window. She does that mostly for her safety (again, keep in mind the cop doesn't know it's you, on your way home from Shaw's, with kids in tow), but also to watch your response. She asks for a driver's license and registration. She may at this point engage in brief conversation, for example: 'Do you know why I stopped you?' She may at this point notice some possible clues that lead her to think a crime is being committed. It is five-thirty in the afternoon, yet the driver's eyes are very bloodshot. The driver seems to be a slow talker, maybe more.
The officer returns to her car to run a motor vehicle check on the driver. In doing so she gathers more information about the driver, his record, if there are any warrants or retraining orders on the person. That done, the officer returns to the driver to continue the investigation. Though it seems too long, we see we go from here next week.
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Londonderry police Capt. Bill Hart's column appears Fridays in the Derry News.
