Our patrol cars are marked with high visibility reflective striping not only to assist with officer safety at traffic stops and accident scenes, etc., but also to increase deterrence among drivers who might otherwise be breaking traffic laws if they failed to see a patrol car. They provide maximum patrol visibility and are used for responding to various calls for service, traffic enforcement, and patrol duties.

In answer to the challenge sometimes issued by irritated motorists reacting to a traffic stop: “Why aren't you out arresting criminals?” We are, but in addition to, not at the expense of the traffic law enforcement responsibility our department has to our community. Patrolling our campus remains the vital task of protecting public safety, through the proven deterrence of traffic law enforcement.

The seemingly minor infraction can start a chain of events. Here are just a few examples:

A vehicle is stopped for a liquor violation:

• The officer smells marijuana in the vehicle, and a large bag of narcotics is seized. 

The driver of vehicle is stopped at an ATAP check stop:

• The driver is found to have beverage alcohol on his breath.
• The driver fails a breath test on a roadside screening device, and is found to be impaired.
• Tt is found that the driver lied about his identity, and that his licence is suspended for a previous impaired driving charge.
• The driver also has a warrant out for his arrest because he failed to appear in court for the impaired driving charge.
• Since the driver violated the conditions of his release (that he is not allowed to consume beverage alcohol), he is placed under arrest. 

If our mission is truly to “Develop and Promote Communication and Education to Enhance Public Awareness and Safety,” then what better way to emphasize the Community Policing principles than by making our streets safer for those who use them on a daily basis. Our community is reaping the benefits.