SELECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT

• NCJ Number: 48171
• Editor(s): D C BATTRAM
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 248 pages
• Contract Number(s): DOT-HS-036-1-042
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Admin
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Sale Source: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERIES, V 3

Annotation

THE ELEMENTS OF SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT (I.E., ITS STANDARDS, RATES, IMPLEMENTATION, AND MANPOWER ALLOCATION AND DISTRIBUTION) ARE DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS.

Abstract

SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IS DEFINED AS ENFORCEMENT WHICH IS PROPORTIONAL TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS WITH RESPECT TO TIME, PLACE, AND TYPE OF VIOLATION. IT IS THE INTENTION OF SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT TO REDUCE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT RATES THROUGH THE JUDICIOUS USE OF ENFORCEMENT TECHNIQUES APPLIED BY ADEQUATE AND PROPERLY DEPLOYED MANPOWER RESOURCES. THE KEY ELEMENTS OF A SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING: TRAFFIC ACCIDENT DATA BASE, TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ANALYSIS, TRAINING FOR SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT, AND TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION. STANDARDS AND RATES FOR MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS ARE DISCUSSED. EASY-TO-USE RATES OR FORMULAS FOR ENFORCEMENT EVALUATION PURPOSES ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE LIMITED VALIDITY, AND IT IS URGED THAT TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED STATISTICIANS USING ADVANCED STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES BE EMPLOYED TO DETERMINE STANDARDS AND RATES THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY EVALUATE SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS. SELECTION AND TRAINING OF PERSONNEL, ENFORCEMENT TECHNIQUES, ASSIGNMENT TECHNIQUES, THE USE OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ANALYSIS, AND THE EVALUATION OF SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS ARE DISCUSSED WITH REFERENCE TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. STEPS FOR DETERMINING MANPOWER ALLOCATION AND DISTRIBUTION ARE EXAMINED. A DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE DRINKING-DRIVER ARREST RATE AND REDUCE ALCOHOL-RELATED TRAFFIC OFFENSES IS DESCRIBED. THE PROGRAM UTILIZES FIELDING UNITS SPECIALLY TRAINED AND EQUIPPED TO APPREHEND AND PROCESS ALCOHOL-IMPAIRED DRIVERS IS DESCRIBED. ALSO INCLUDED IS A VIOLATION SURVEY PROGRAM INTENDED TO PRODUCE VALID ASSESSMENTS OF THE EFFECT OF SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. THE APPENDIX INCLUDES EXAMPLES OF FORMS USED IN ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES, HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM STANDARDS, HELICOPTER UNIT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE, A SAMPLE ENFORCEMENT POLICY, AND CLASSIFICATIONS OF TRAFFIC LAW VIOLATIONS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS ALSO INCLUDED. GRAPHS, MAPS, AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)