1. Traffic Stop Data Collection
Traffic Stop Data Collection Instruction Manual
Purpose of Manual Page 2
Type of Stops Page 3
Traffic Stop Data Collection Flowchart Page 4
Additional Clarification Page 5
Traffic Stop Data Entry Screen Page 6
The IMC Traffic Stop Module Page 7
General Information About The Stop Page 8
Reason for Stop Page 9
Basis for Stop Page 10-11
Operator Race Page 12-13
Operator Sex Page 14
Operator Residency Page 15
Operator DOB Page 16
Registration Page 17
Additional Occupants Page 18
Result of Stop Page 19-20
Duration Page 21
Road Page 22
Plate Type Page 23
Prior Record Page 24
Search Information Page 25-33

2. Purpose of Manual
This document will serve as a manual for law enforcement officers collecting traffic stop data through an electronic Traffic Stop Data Collection Module. The manual is organized to correspond with the module.
The Rhode Island DOT will use the traffic stop data to prepare quarterly reports in accordance with the Comprehensive Police-Community Relationship Act (CPCRA). The requirements for the quarterly reports are outlined in R.I. General Laws §

3. Types of Stops
Traffic Stop Data is collected for ALL motor vehicle stops.
Responding to a crash is considered a “motorist assist”. A motorist assist does not warrant a Traffic Stop Record, unless it leads to a secondary action, when the operator is present (i.e. citation, warning, arrest, search).

4. The flowchart below shows how an officer can determine if a Traffic Stop Record is required.

5. Additional Clarification:
An INVENTORY/TOW search is not considered a secondary action, to a motorist assist\collision.
Example:
An officer responds to an accident. The accident investigation does not lead to an enforcement action (i.e. citation, arrest, incident, etc.). An inventory is conducted on one of the vehicles, before it is towed. The Inventory is NOT considered an enforcement action. A Traffic Stop Record is not required in this example.
A citation issued to the owner of a vehicle, as a result of a violation caught on digital media, does not warrant a Traffic Stop Record. (i.e. school bus stop photo or a traffic light photo.
Pedestrian stops conducted by officers on foot do not warrant a Traffic Stop Record.
If an officer issues a paper citation, a record is still required to be stored in the electronic system.

6. Traffic Stop Details in the manual are illustrated using the data choices as they appear within the IMC module.

7. The IMC Traffic Stop Module
In the IMC software, the Traffic Stop Data Entry Screen can be found in 3 places:
Within a Dispatch Call
Within a Citation
Under the Traffic pull-down menu

8. Traffic Stop General Information
The top portion of a Traffic Stop Data Entry Screen references the general information about the stop.
NOTE:
If the Traffic Stop Record is entered within a Call or a Citation, this information will backfill.

9. Traffic Stop Details - Reason for Stop
The “initial” reason for the stop should be entered.
The drop-down list options are:
Investigatory
Violation
Assist
NOTE:
If the Traffic Stop Record is entered within a Citation, the Reason for Stop will backfill as Violation. This may need to be changed to reflect the initial reason for the stop.

10. Traffic Stop Details – Basis for the Stop
Enter the basis for the “initial” stop. The drop-down list options are:
Speeding
Seatbelt Violation
Other Traffic Violation
Equipment/Inspection Violation
Registration Violation
Violation of City/Town Ordinance
Special Detail/Directed Patrol
Call for Service
APB
Suspicious Person
Motorist Assist/Courtesy
Warrant
NOTE:
If the Traffic Stop Record is entered within a citation, the Basis for the Stop may backfill. This may need to be changed to reflect the initial basis for the stop.

11. Basis For Stop
The “Motorist Assist/Courtesy” option is appropriate when an officer’s interaction begins with an assist or collision, where the operator is present and then becomes an enforcement action.
NOTE:
The IMC module will not allow you to enter a Traffic Stop Record without the Operator’s information, so the operator must be present.
The “Special Detail/Directed Patrol” option is appropriate only during a Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) effort. This option should not be used for other details.
Examples:
If an officer working an overtime Click It Or Ticket detail stops a driver for a seat belt violation, the basis for stop will be “Seat Belt”.
If an officer working an NRT patrol stops a driver for an equipment violation, the basis for stop will be “Special Detail/Directed Patrol”.

12. Traffic Stop Details – Operator Race
Operator Race is the Officer’s perception of the driver. The officer selects the option that he/she believes to be the most accurate. The drop-down list options are:
Black/African American
White
Native American
Asian/Pacific Island/East Indian
Black Hispanic
White Hispanic

13. Operator Race, in the IMC module…
NOTE:
If the Operator’s information is backfilled from the department’s Master Names into a Call, the Operator Race, as it appears in Master Names, will backfill into the Traffic Stop Record. This should be changed to reflect the officer’s perception of the driver, at the time of the stop.

14. Traffic Stop Details – Operator Sex
The Driver License provides the sex of an operator. If an officer cannot use the Driver License to determine the Operator Sex, then it is determined by observation.
NOTE:
If the Traffic Stop Record is entered within a Citation, the Operator’s Sex will backfill from the Citation Entry Screen.

15. Traffic Stop Details – Residency
Residency captures whether the driver is from the city/town where the stop happened. This is not based on jurisdiction.
The Code H (N/A Interstate Highway) should not be selected.

16. Traffic Stop Details – Operator DOB
The DOB entry will be MM/DD/YYYY format.
NOTE:
If the Traffic Stop Record is entered within a Call or Citation, the Operator’s DOB will backfill.

17. Traffic Stop Details – Registration
The registration for the vehicle is entered using the first field for the state and the second field for the plate number.
NOTE:
If the Traffic Stop Record is entered within a Call or Citation, the vehicle registration will backfill.

18. Traffic Stop Details – Additional Occupants
Enter the number of additional occupants. Do not include the driver in the additional occupants count.

19. Traffic Stop Details – Result of Stop
Result of Stop should indicate the outcome of the stop. The drop-down list options are:
M/V Citation
N/D
Warning
Arrest Driver
Arrest Passenger
No Action

20. Result of Stop Additional Clarification:
The “Reason for Stop” and “Basis for Stop” are independent from the “Result of Stop”. These fields do not change due to the Result of Stop.
The Result of Stop is entered with the following priority:
Actions involving the driver.
Most significant action for the Result of Stop.
Examples:
If both the driver and passenger were arrested, “Arrest Driver” would take priority.
If a citation was issued to the driver and the driver was arrested, “Arrest Driver” would take priority.
If a citation was issued to the driver and the passenger was arrested, “Arrest Passenger” would take priority.
NOTE:
If the Traffic Stop Record is entered within a citation, “M/V Citation” will backfill. This should be changed, as needed.

21. Traffic Stop Details – Duration
Enter the amount of time that the stop was conducted.

22. Traffic Stop Details – Road
Enter the type of roadway the vehicle was located on. The drop-down list options are:
Interstate Highway
State Highway
Non-Highway
Additional Clarification:
“Interstate Highway” refers to I-95, I-195 and I-295.

23. Traffic Stop Details – Plate Type
Enter the type of license plate into this field.
NOTE:
If the Traffic Stop Record is entered within a Call or Citation, the Plate Type will backfill.

24. Traffic Stop Details – Prior Record
Enter the appropriate value to show if the driver has a prior criminal record.

25. Search Information
Searches conducted on the driver, passengers, and vehicle are collected within the Traffic Stop Data Collection module. This includes the initial Reason for the search, what was Searched\Frisked and the Result of what was searched.
Enter the initial reason for the search. The IMC software allows three choices. However, only one answer should be provided within the “Reason” section.
Additional Clarification:
Inventory/tow should be documented elsewhere and should NOT be used as the initial reason for the search. If something is found during an inventory\tow, then the initial reason for the search should be another option, not inventory\tow.
Example:
An officer responds to an accident, both drivers are issued citations and both cars are towed. While doing an inventory of one of the vehicles, before it is towed, the officer finds cocaine. The “initial” reason for the search should be “Plain View Contraband”, not inventory\tow.
Next, enter what was searched\frisked, starting with where the search began. The IMC software allows up to three selections. Each selection should correspond, left-to-right, with the Result boxes.
Next, enter the Result of what was searched. The IMC software allows up to three selections. Each Result should correspond, left-to-right, with the items selected in the Search\Frisk boxes.
In the event that the scope and results of the search go beyond the data collection capabilities, then this and all other relevant facts should be included in the officer’s narrative.

26. A diagram of how to enter the search data within the data collection screen.

27. If Search is checked, the Search Information section will activate.
NOTE:
In IMC Build 6.6.8, the user will be prompted with a warning stating, “This search may require an Incident or Arrest report to further document the circumstances.”

28. Consent Requested answers the question, “Did the officer request consent to search?” If checked, means “Yes”.

29. Enter the initial reason for the search
Enter the initial reason for the search. Only one Reason should be entered. Do not use the second and third drop-down boxes.
The drop-down list options are:
Incident to Arrest
Probable Cause
Terry Frisk
Plain view contraband
Odor of Drugs/Alcohol
Inventory/Tow
Reasonable Articulable Suspicion
Additional Clarification:
The “Inventory/Tow” option should NOT be used. Inventories should be documented elsewhere.
The “Reasonable Articulable Suspicion” option would be used, if “Consent Requested” was checked, but may not be exclusive to consent requested.

30. Enter what was searched, starting with where your search began
Enter what was searched, starting with where your search began. The Search\Frisk drop-down list options are:
Driver
Passenger
Vehicle
Additional Clarification:
The Search/Frisk entry should correspond, left-to-right, with the Result entry boxes. Meaning, if Driver is in box one, then the Driver’s search results should be in box one.

31. Enter the Result of what was searched
Enter the Result of what was searched. Each Result box should correspond, left-to-right, to the items selected in the Search\Frisk boxes.
The Result drop-down list options are:
None
Weapons
Money
Drugs/Drug Paraphernalia
Alcohol
Other
Additional Clarification:
If a search is conducted and contraband is found, then the input for Search Results should be the highest level of contraband found.

32. Traffic Stop Examples:
You respond to an accident, where one vehicle is towed. Both drivers are at the scene. One driver is issued a citation. You did an inventory of the vehicle before it was towed.
Is a Traffic Stop Record required for that driver?
What would you enter as the Reason for Stop?
What would you enter as the Basis for Stop?
What would you enter as the Result of Stop?
Should you enter Search information?
You respond to a Disabled Motor Vehicle. Only the passenger is with the vehicle. You find that the passenger is wanted and make an arrest.
Is a Traffic Stop Record required, when the operator is not present?
You initiate a motor vehicle stop for speeding. You find the driver is wanted. You arrest the driver and search the driver then the vehicle. Nothing was found on the driver, but a gun and cocaine were found in the vehicle.
Is a Traffic Stop Record required?
What would you enter as the Basis for the Stop?
What would you enter as your search reason?
What order would you enter what was searched?
What would you enter in the search results?
Yes
Investigation
Motorist Assist/ Courtesy
M/V Citation No No
Yes
Violation
Speeding
Arrest Driver
Incident to Arrest
Box 1: Driver, Box 2: Vehicle
Box 1: None, Box 2: Weapons

33. Traffic Stop Examples Continued:
You initiate a motor vehicle stop for a seat belt violation. You issue a verbal warning to the driver.
Is a Traffic Stop Record required for that driver?
What would you enter as the Reason for Stop?
What would you enter as the Basis for Stop?
What would you enter as the Result of Stop?
You are working an overtime detail directing traffic for road construction. You pull over a vehicle for speeding and issue the driver a citation.
Is a Traffic Stop Record required?
Would you enter the Basis for Stop as “Special Detail / Directed Patrol”?
You respond to an accident. Both drivers are issued citations.
How many Traffic Stop Records should be entered?
Yes
Violation
Seat Belt Violation
Warning
Yes No
Yes
Two
Motorist Assist / Courtesy

34. Questions?