Roadmap for the Future Role of Law Enforcement Personnel to Enforce Traffic Safety Laws

In recent years the role and function of traffic law enforcement have changed. Some jurisdictions have placed limitations on the engagement of police officers in certain traffic safety functions, such as policies that forbid traffic stops for vehicle equipment violations. There has been a reduction in the number of sworn law enforcement officers in many jurisdictions due to retirements, increased vacancy rates, and other factors, thus further contributing to a reduction in traffic enforcement activity. With changes in the role and function of traffic law enforcement, two questions germane to state highway safety offices (SHSOs) and their law enforcement partners are (1) does the public accept and want police to enforce traffic safety laws and (2) what should be the future role and function of law enforcement officers in traffic enforcement? Research is needed to help answer both questions. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop a roadmap for the future role of law enforcement personnel to enforce traffic safety laws. 

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5738
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Funding: $460000
• Contract Numbers:

  BTS-41

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Governors Highway Safety Association

  444 N. Capitol Street, NW, Suite 722
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, D.C.  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Retting, Richard

• Start Date: 20241202
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Police; Policy; Public opinion; States; Traffic law enforcement; Traffic safety
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Policy; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01922047
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: BTS-41
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Jun 18 2024 4:39PM