NJ LEE Patrol Techniques & Traffic Enforcement 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer observes a vehicle with a broken tail light at 2 a.m. in a high-crime area. This observation:
- Does not justify any police contact
- Provides probable cause to search the vehicle
- Constitutes a valid basis for a motor vehicle stop (Correct answer)
- Requires supervisor approval before stopping the vehicle
Correct answer: Constitutes a valid basis for a motor vehicle stop
A defective equipment violation is a traffic infraction that independently justifies a motor vehicle stop under New Jersey law.
Question 2: The primary purpose of a 'RAP' (Routine Activity Patrol) log is to:
- Document radio communications only
- Record officer activity, contacts, and observations during patrol for accountability and intelligence (Correct answer)
- Track vehicle mileage for fleet maintenance
- Log overtime hours
Correct answer: Record officer activity, contacts, and observations during patrol for accountability and intelligence
Activity logs document patrol contacts and observations, providing a record for supervisory review and contributing to intelligence about neighborhood conditions.
Question 3: When conducting a vehicle checkpoint in New Jersey, officers must follow guidelines established in:
- Terry v. Ohio (1968)
- Illinois v. Lidster (2004) and State v. Kirk (1985) (Correct answer)
- Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
- Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
Correct answer: Illinois v. Lidster (2004) and State v. Kirk (1985)
New Jersey checkpoint procedures are governed by federal standards from cases like Lidster and the state's own Kirk decision, which require neutral, non-discriminatory selection.
Question 4: If a driver refuses to exit a vehicle after a lawful traffic stop, an officer may:
- Only issue a summons and walk away
- Order the driver out under Pennsylvania v. Mimms and use reasonable force if necessary (Correct answer)
- Wait indefinitely until the driver complies voluntarily
- Immediately call a supervisor before taking any action
Correct answer: Order the driver out under Pennsylvania v. Mimms and use reasonable force if necessary
Pennsylvania v. Mimms (1977) held that officers may order drivers out of vehicles as a routine safety measure following a lawful stop.
Question 5: The 'two-second rule' in traffic enforcement refers to:
- The legal minimum following distance between vehicles (Correct answer)
- How long an officer must observe a violation before stopping a driver
- The maximum gap allowed before considering a car chase a pursuit
- The time limit for issuing a summons after a stop
Correct answer: The legal minimum following distance between vehicles
The two-second rule is the widely-taught minimum safe following distance between vehicles at highway speeds.
Question 6: A driver presents a commercial vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 lbs. The officer should verify the driver has a minimum of:
- Class B CDL (Correct answer)
- Class A CDL
- Class C CDL
- Standard Class D license
Correct answer: Class B CDL
A Class B CDL is required for single vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 lbs or more that are not towing a heavy trailer.
Question 7: When documenting a crash scene, an officer's diagram should always include:
- Estimated repair costs for each vehicle
- North arrow, scale or 'not to scale' notation, roadway features, and point of impact (Correct answer)
- Names of all witnesses in the diagram itself
- Officer's shift schedule
Correct answer: North arrow, scale or 'not to scale' notation, roadway features, and point of impact
Standard crash diagrams require a north arrow, scale notation, road features, and the point of impact to be legally useful and reproducible.
NJ LEE Patrol Techniques & Traffic Enforcement 4
An officer observes a vehicle with a broken tail light at 2 a.m. in a high-crime area.
This observation: