Passenger Side Approach

Hello Vampires,

This Weeks Continuing Education Link: http://www.mctft.com/
The Multijurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force Training offers LEO’s the opportunity take numerous online courses relating to drugs and their culture. The courses are interactive, independent study (no instructor), and upon successful navigation of each course, they offer a Certificate of Completion good for 16 training hours.

By Christopher Mason
Training/Product Development
Vampire Squad

Vampire Nation,
During the holidays, I enjoy driving with my family from central Florida to central Louisiana. The open road gives me the chance to clear my head and observe other law enforcement officers along the route. One thing that I see over and over again is LEO’s making driver side approaches during traffic stops. Why do we continue to do this? I know at some point in time we all have been given the stats of LEO’s killed or injured during driver side approaches so I won’t beat a dead horse with the sickening numbers. It disgusts me to see an LEO make a driver side approach with their back to on coming traffic when the passenger side approach is completely open.

What are the three ways you can make contact with the driver of a vehicle during a traffic stop?

Driver’s side approach
Passenger’s side approach
Driver call back.

Today let us discuss the benefits of the passenger’s side approach.

Occupants in the vehicle do not expect you to approach on the passenger side and usually you will startle them.

You are away from the traffic lane and are less likely to get struck by a passing vehicle. (Remember the training videos where the LEO gets hit by a passing vehicle?)

When you approach you can see everything the driver is trying to hide or conceal.

You have more reaction time, and a vehicle between you, if the driver or passengers get froggy.

You get a clear unobstructed view into the passenger area and the glove compartment.

You have increased reaction time if you ask the driver to step out of the vehicle.

Many DUI officers preach the driver’s side approach because of the smell of the impurities of the alcoholic beverage coming from the driver. The response to that thinking is there are many other clues during the traffic stop and the interaction with the driver that will give you enough clues and totality of circumstances to conduct a complete DUI investigation.
Of course, these are only a few of the benefits of making the passenger’s side approach and I’m sure the Vampire Nation will have many to offer. The only thing I ask, AND CHALLENGE YOU TO DO, is for one night make nothing but passenger’s side approaches and see how many drivers and passengers you surprise.

Let me know what you find out. Remember: We Intimidate the Night.

CCMason