Traffic Enforcement

Realistic ERLC traffic stops, safe locations, approach, citations, noncompliance, and the line between enforcement and harassment.

Traffic stops are the core of NHP work. Done well, they are quick, professional, and keep the highway moving.

Mandatory

·Introduce yourself using your actual rank, name, and department.
·Explain the reason for the stop clearly.
·Remain professional and explain the violation to the driver.
·Public server members are not required to have an assigned department callsign.

1Observe the violation and confirm it actually happened.
2Radio the plate, vehicle description, and location before you pull out.
3Activate lights to signal the stop. Use the siren only if the driver does not yield.
4Follow the vehicle to a safe stopping point. Do not force a stop in a blind curve.
5Pull in behind with your lights on and leave yourself an exit lane.
6Approach the driver's side on slower roads; use the passenger side where traffic is fast and close.
7Introduce yourself with your rank, name, and department, and state the reason for the stop.
8Ask for licence and registration.
9Decide on a warning or citation based on the violation.
10Issue the warning or citation, explain it, and clear the stop on the radio.

"Good evening. I'm Trooper [Name] with the Nevada Highway Patrol. The reason for the stop is..."

"Dispatch, NHP-4, traffic stop, northbound at the county line, plate out, blue sedan."

"NHP-4, stop cleared, warning issued, code 4."

·Pick a wide shoulder, an exit ramp, or a flat straight stretch. Avoid curves, hills, bridges, and narrow shoulders.
·Do not force a stop where oncoming traffic cannot see you. Direct the driver to a safer spot if needed.
·A few extra seconds to reach a safe spot is always worth it.

·Lights on for the whole stop so approaching drivers see you.
·Angle your patrol car about 30 degrees toward the road to push traffic away from your open door.
·Keep the siren off once the stop is made.
·If the driver flees, do not immediately pursue. See the Vehicle Pursuits section.

·Be polite and professional. You set the tone of the whole stop.
·Explain the reason for the stop before you ask for documents.
·Keep the conversation on the violation. Do not interrogate the player about unrelated things.
·If the driver is argumentative, stay calm. Escalating a traffic stop is a failure, not enforcement.

·Only issue citations for violations the server actually supports. Do not invent charges.
·State the citation clearly to the driver.
·A warning is a valid outcome. Not every stop needs a citation.

When to warn versus cite

Situation	Action
Minor, first-time, no danger	Verbal or written warning
Clear or repeat violation	Citation
Reckless or dangerous driving	Citation; consider arrest if the server models it
Driver flees the stop	Do not cite. See Vehicle Pursuits

·If a driver refuses to provide documents, ask once more, calmly. Note the refusal for the report.
·If a driver becomes verbally aggressive but not threatening, stay professional and complete the stop.
·If a driver threatens you or a passenger, or you see a weapon, request backup immediately and fall back to cover.
·Do not escalate to force over a traffic violation. Force follows a threat, not an attitude.

·A driver who flees a lawful stop has committed an additional offense. A pursuit may be justified. See the Vehicle Pursuits section.
·Not every flight justifies a pursuit. A low-level offender in light traffic is often not worth the risk.
·If you pursue, broadcast immediately: unit, direction, vehicle description, and the reason.
·If you do not pursue, broadcast the description and last direction so other units can watch.

Mandatory

·Do not stop the same player repeatedly without a fresh violation. Repeated stops without cause are harassment.
·Do not follow a player waiting for them to make a mistake. Observe a real violation first.
·Do not target a player because of a personal dispute, their group, or their roleplay choices outside the law.

Harassment is one of the fastest ways to lose your NHP status. When in doubt, do not stop.