XVI.

TRAFFIC PATROL
Concept
In maintaining order in the streets and highways, it is nit sufficient to install control devices and
aids. Traffic signs, pavement markings and markers and other traffic rules and regulations are
likely to be violated in the absence of traffic law enforcement officers. Therefore, to ensure
compliance to these traffic rules and regulations, traffic patrol officers are needed.
Traffic Patrol. It refers to the observation of road conditions, the behavior of the drivers and
other users of vehicles for the purpose of traffic supervision and law enforcement and providing
authorized traffic-connected services to the public. However, traffic patrol is not all moving
from one place to another place, but it also involves stationary observation particularly on
strategic places where accidents and traffic violations are very common occurrence.
A. Types of Traffic Patrol. Traffic patrol may be conducted on area or line bases which refer to
the territory covered. It includes, for enforcement purposes, stationary observation to detect.
driver’s behavior as well as moving about to detect violators.
1. Line Patrol. This involves observation either in moving or stationary observation at a certain
route or point of a major street in a city. Usually, this is done by foot patrol officers.
2. Area Patrol. This involves the conduct of observation either by moving patrol or observation
of a certain area which included a number of streets, roads or sections of a highway. Area
patrolling is usually the job of mobile police officers as well as those motorcycle cops.

B. Types of Stationary Observation. As discussed earlier, Observation of traffic conditions of

selected place, usually one with unfavorable accident experiences for traffic law supervision.
Stationary observation may be conspicuous, visible, or concealed, depending upon the location
of
the patrol unit in relation to the street under observation.
1. Conspicuous Observation. Stationary observation in which observer remains in full view of
traffic conditions. Here, the traffic patrol officer is situated in any pace where he could be
seen by all traffic users.
2. Visible Observation. Stationary observation in which the observer is in full view but so
located, for example, at side street, so as to require effort on the part of traffic users to
discover the observer.
3. Concealed Observation. Stationary observation in which the observer is not visible to
persons using ordinary power of observation from the roadway being observed.

C. Purposes of Traffic Patrol. Traffic patrolling usually conducted for the following purposes:
1. Deterrent to violations and dangerous driving.
2. Detecting and apprehending violators.
3. Observing and reporting traffic conditions.
4. Observing and reporting road conditions, including view obstruction which needs attention.
5. Providing certain services to the public.
6. Handling emergencies as they arise and keeping traffic flow smoothly.

D. Deterring Drivers from Violating. The effect of traffic law enforcement on the behavior of the
motorist drivers depends upon what they think the police will do or the reputation of the police
for action. Once you have a reputation as a good traffic enforcer for taking action when it is
necessary, a deterrent effect may be achieved in several ways:
1. Be sure you are seen by other motorists while taking enforcement actions against a violator.
2. Be in full view while simply patrolling or inspecting.
3. Leave the area view and proceed to another area after you have taken enforcement action.
4. In order to achieve a deterrent in la enforcement, be sure to spend more time in some area
wherein motorists or drivers fail to be aware of their common bad driving practices.
5. Enforcement action should be taken at once among habitual violators in order to deter traffic
violators.

E. Deter Violator for Unsafe Driving.

Be alert for potentially hazardous drivers. His action may not be illegal but may serve as road
hazards that need to be cautioned. This kind of driver may not have enough driving experience;
he may be under the influence of liquor or narcotics that he may later on contribute to an
accident if no action is taken against him at once.
F. Example of Actions and Conditions which may Need Close Watching for Further
Investigations. While patrolling, traffic officers must give special attention to some conditions
that may result to greater danger or continuous violations. These are:
1. Driving extremely at low speed.
2. Slow moving vehicles in left or <high speed= lanes.
3. Racing motor sliding stops, jumping starts, and the like.
4. Excessive maneuvering such as backing up four or five times to get into a parking space.
5. Pulling to curb lane at traffic signal.
6. Having turn signals on when not attempting to turn.
7. Waving in roadway.
8. Failing to slow for an intersection with obstructed view.
9. Passing or attempting to pass several cars in a bunch.
10. Suddenly turning off at approach of police vehicle.
11. Teen-age groups at night particularly when in two or more vehicles.
12. Damage or dressed up vehicles.
13. Faulty or obscured license plates.
14. Unlighted parked cars with motor running.
Warn drivers or pedestrians who are doubted to commit a violation. Confirm your observation of
a driver by making a sign or signal that his intended action is to be avoided. For example, a
driver may be about to stop and to double park or start to leave a vehicle which is standing in a
driveway. A gesture is usually enough to warn the driver to desist.

G. Detection or Apprehending Violators.

These are the main jobs or duties of traffic patrol officers.

H. Observing Traffic Conditions.

As traffic patrol officer, you are the eyes and ears of the department when on traffic patrol. You
must supply information about what is happening on the street. This information may be used for
many purposes.
I. Road Intelligence. Unusual points of serious congestion must be noted. You may observe an
unusual amount of delay at a certain intersection each morning and when you learn that it is due
to loading or unloading of passengers on a <NO LOADING ZONE=, be sure to report the
situation
at once to your superior officer. Pay special attention to congestions that tie up traffic for a block
or more. You should also report unnecessary delay at stop signs or signals which are installed
when traffic is heavier. Include in your report all road and bridge conditions.

J. Patrol Assignment. You may be assigned to either area or line patrol, or you may have
instructions to use a combination. For example, you may patrol a certain street noted for
excessive accidents in a line at specific times. The following are some guidelines when assigned
in traffic patrol unit.
1. Be sure to be familiar with the street lay out in your area. Learn the short cuts, the dead
ends, and the back streets. Learn which streets are likely to serve as escape routes from the
city or provincial roads.
2. Familiarize yourself with the places where congestion is likely to occur so that you can <drive
around= these places when on emergency call.
3. When assigned to area patrol, you may or may not be able to cover your entire assignment
area on each tour of duty, depending upon its size. You may not be able to give the same
amount of attention to each section due to the necessity of concentrating on a certain
trouble spots. However, you should consider yourself responsible for traffic conditions in the
entire area.
4. When assigned to line patrol, you are responsible for the traffic conditions on a particular
street or highway. You may be permitted to depart from your assigned street when, for
example, you pursue violator or on an authorized break time such as lunch.
5. You may also want to employ patrol techniques which will require you to depart momentarily
from an intersecting street rather than always approaching it from the street which you are
patrolling. At times this will enable you to get better view of traffic conditions on your
assigned street.
K. Patrol Tactics and Techniques. Occasionally, you may have an assignment in which you work
with another patrol unit. When multiple patrol units are used, special tactics are possible.
Examples of these are following:
1. When one unit overtakes a group of vehicles, the other unit brings up the rear of the group
think that they can no longer be observed since they have been passed by the first patrol
unit, they feel free to violate. The following patrol unit observes and apprehends the
violators. A conspicuous and concealed unit may be used together in much the same
manner.
2. When an entire column of vehicle must be stopped, one unit stays at the rear while the other
overtakes the leader. If two vehicles are racing, or if two violators separate, the paired patrol
units can separate for individual pursuit.
3. Another advantage of working together is that officers can protect each other, particularly
when approaching suspicious persons or vehicles. Except for special purposes or occasions,
patrol unit works independently so that more areas can be covered that way.

L. Steps to Take in Cases of Special and Unusual Situations. Oftentimes, traffic control
officers are confronted with unusual situations while on field operations. The following are some
of the guidelines to be observed when faced with unusual incidents:

1. What to do in case of abandoned motor vehicle? A motor vehicle is said to be

abandoned when it is left unattended in an area not provided for parking or unattended for
one or two days in an area provide for parking. For these reasons, unattended vehicles
become a problem to traffic flow. In some instances, they are accidentally found to be a
more serious problem than what is actually thought of, particularly when they are abandoned
by carnappers or hold uppers. Abandoned vehicles may be classified into two categories: a)
unattended due to mechanical defects, and b) abandoned by carnappers or hold up men.
a. In case of the first category:
(1) Verify and check on the ownership of the vehicle,
(2) And if possible, advise the owner to relocate the vehicle to a much safer place.
b. In case of the second category:
(1) Get the plate number and other data of the vehicle,
(2) Make a report on the presence of the abandoned vehicle to the nearest TRAFCOM or
traffic police unit,
(3) Make possible steps to inform the owner,
(4) Bring the vehicle to the TRAFCOM or traffic police impounding area and conduct a
technical inspection report in the presence of the alleged owner,
(5) Advise the owner to present all pertinent papers of the vehicle for the identification
of the ownership,
(6) If the vehicle is found to have violated any provision of RA 6539, note its violation
and together with the Technical Inspection Report, submit it for investigation, and
(7) Finally, submit a duly accomplished spot report.

2. What to do on stalled or bogged down vehicles that are left carelessly unattended
in the highways. In these cases therefore, it is important that you should know the basic
courses of actions in order to avoid unnecessary risks of human lives and property and
further allow the continuous free flow of traffic. When you notice stalled or bogged down
vehicles having mechanical defects and blocking the roads; take this precautionary
measures:
a. Check the defect or condition of the vehicle,
b. Ensure the safety of vehicles and persons involved by conducting traffic direction in the
vicinity,
c. If practicable, push the vehicle to the road shoulder. You may request assistance of other
motorists to do this, otherwise avail of wreckers of heavy trucks to move it,
d. Advise the owner of the vehicle to avail the services of repairman, and
e. Provide early warning device or any lantern to deter accident occurrences and provide
appropriate precautions for the safety and conveniences of the repairman and the other
motorists.

3. How to handle traffic jam? Traffic jam is caused by such factor as vehicular accident,
stalled vehicle due to engine trouble, absence of traffic officer at an intersection, or road
construction. Steps to be taken by traffic officer are:
a. Determine the cause of the traffic jam,
b. Where traffic jam is caused by vehicular accident, conduct fast, immediate but complete
investigation and remove vehicles involved at the scene of accident,
c. If traffic jam is caused by mechanical trouble, assist motorist to push the vehicle to a
place where it will not obstruct the flow of traffic,
d. Establish yourself and conduct systematic flow of traffic,
e. Observe if the flow of traffic became smooth, if not, refer back to letter <a= above, and
f. Implement proper traffic regulation to avoid further traffic jam.

4. In case of vehicle cannibalization. Vehicle cannibalization is characterized by stealing the

parts of the motor vehicle instead of carnapping the whole car. In case of this incident, take
the following steps:
a. Determine the vehicle parts that were stolen,
b. Take down the name of the owner of the vehicle, the description of the vehicle, and the
location or where the incident took place,
c. Look for immediate possible clues that might lead to the identification of the perpetrators
or their modus operandi,
d. Interview the witnesses and owner to get a general picture of the situation prior to the
incident,
e. Prepare a spot report and submit it to the nearest TRAFCOM Unit, and
f. If further investigation is necessary, the vehicle may be impounded for safekeeping.