Greendale Police Department: Traffic Stops
When you as a motorist are signaled by a police officer, by use of emergency lights and/or siren, you are to pull to the right side of the street and stop. If the police officer continues driving past you, you may proceed when it is safe to re-enter traffic. If the police officer pulls behind your vehicle, he/she is conducting a traffic stop.
To stop you, the officer must have reasonable suspicion that you have violated some law. A reasonable suspicion is more than a hunch or mere speculation, but less than the probable cause needed for an arrest.
Please remain in your vehicle; avoid movements in the vehicle that would cause you, if you were a police officer, to think that the driver or passengers were either hiding something or obtaining a weapon. When the officer is ready he/she will approach your vehicle. The officer will introduce themself, explain why you were stopped, and ask for your drivers license. The officer may also ask passengers for identification in some situations. The officer may also talk with you about the alleged violation.
Please remain in your vehicle while the officer returns to his/her patrol vehicle, and again refrain from activity that may appear suspicious to any reasonable person. When the officer returns to your vehicle, he/she may have a traffic citation for you. Perhaps, a written warning will be issued or a defect warning for an equipment violation.
In some violations, citizens can be taken into custody for bail. In other cases the officer may have stopped you for an investigative reason other than a traffic violation. If a citation is issued, do not attempt to dispute the citation on the street, the court will be the place to explain your view of the situation, and ask questions of the officer. It may be that you, your vehicle or passenger fit the description of someone the police are trying to locate.
The officer will inform you when you can leave after the traffic stop. If requested, the officer will provide you with his/her name to refer to if you have questions at a later date, or if you wish to comment to our Department about the experience with the officer, whether good or bad. Both police and citizens have responsibilities and rights during traffic stops.
