The Highway Patrol enforces driving safety on state highways, assists with accidents and highway maintenance, and partners with other law enforcement agencies. Drivers should comply with speed limits and report dangerous conditions. During a traffic stop, drivers should be calm and respectful, and wait for the officer to ask for documents.
The Highway Patrol is a state law enforcement organization with a number of different duties, depending on the state it is in. As a general rule, a state’s highway patrol operates independently of regional law enforcement agencies such as municipal police or sheriffs. Officers maintain public safety on state highways, assist other law enforcement agencies, and engage in educational campaigns designed to improve the safety of all citizens.
Civilians often encounter the Highway Patrol in the context of a speeding ticket. However, the job of a traffic police officer goes much further. The Highway Patrol is expected to watch out for dangerous traffic situations and issue citations when necessary, but officers also assist at accident scenes, assist with highway maintenance, enforce commercial driving laws, and investigate traffic accidents. The educational aspect of the highway patrol is also important, and in many states, highway patrol officers interact with the public in classrooms and at driving seminars.
While the Highway Patrol’s primary goal is to promote driving safety, the organization also partners with other law enforcement organizations. Highway Patrol can help with ongoing investigations, for example, or Highway Patrol officers can integrate safety details during events. Highway Patrol also allows police officers to train at its academy. Accident investigations are also an important part of the Highway Patrol’s duties, and officers can assist law enforcement agencies in rural areas which often have limited accident investigation capabilities.
Working for the traffic police can be a dangerous job. Civilians can help the highway patrol officers by complying with posted speed limits and being aware of potential dangers. In many states, the Highway Patrol also requires drivers to report dangerous conditions, including those caused by another driver. Traffic police often have a specific telephone number to call to report drunk drivers, in hopes of reducing drink-driving accidents.
If you’re pulled over by a traffic police officer, it’s probably because the officer is concerned about your driving. You could put yourself or other drivers at risk with an unsafe speed or erratic driving pattern. If you are calm and respectful during a traffic stop, everything is much more likely to go smoothly. To get off to a good start, start by turning off the engine and placing your hands on the wheel when you’re pulled over, and avoid aggressively challenging the officer, even if you think you’re right.
While it might be tempting to get your registration, license, and insurance record ready, the traffic police officer might read your actions differently. You might innocently open your glove box for your insurance, but you might also be looking for a weapon like a gun or knife. Wait for the officer to ask you for these items before taking them and move slowly, keeping your hands clearly visible. Politely respect reasonable requests made by the officer and try to remember that he or she is human too.
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