Goal
Officers will be taught both black letter law and real world “best practices,” making them more professional on video and reducing their exposure to civil lawsuits.
Outcome
Students who complete the course will:
Understand important case law regarding traffic stops
Understand that every search or seizure requires consent, a recognized exception, or a warrant
Know the rules regarding the six most common motor vehicle searches
Reduce or eliminated lawsuits
Make good case law
Training Modules
The history of the motor vehicle exception and its rationale
A thorough understanding of the Jones decision, which outlined when a trespass onto a constitutionally protected area becomes a search under the Fourth Amendment
Pretext stops under Whren
How the scope of a traffic stop is based on its underlying mission
Issues regarding involuntary transportation
Questioning occupants in light of the Rodriquez decision
The four methods that allow an officer to inquire into other criminal activity without unlawfully extending the stop
Under what circumstances passengers may be identified
When passengers may be forced to stay in the vehicle
Gaining lawful consent to search, and complying with any scope limitations
Warrantless vehicle searches, including:
Protective sweep for weapons
Search incident to arrest
Search for arrest-related evidence
Inventories
K9 sniffs
Probable cause searches
This course teaches practically every legal doctrine involving searching and seizing a vehicle. Whether you are fresh out of the academy, or two years before retirement, this course will teach you something. Expect to be an expert on traffic stop law after completing this class.