How to answer a scenerio Q

[Ranger337]

I would like to ask you all a question. This is one that I had asked at a recent oral board, and I wanted to see how you would handle this situation.

You pull over a little old lady for a minor traffic violation. When you get up to her vehicle you notice that her windows are rolled up, and that she has all of her doors locked, and she refuses to acknowldge you at all. What would you do?

Keep in mind this is an oral board question so no matter what you say, you are the one that has to handle this situation without any help from fellow officers.

By the way I did pass this oral board in the # 2 position, but I just want to see how the officers would re-act in this situation.

Here is how I answered the question. Basiclly, I would first check to see if there is a communacation barrier (ie deafness, or non English speaking) Then I would check for a possible medical prob. And since this is only for a minor infraction I wouldn't make a scene out of this. I would run the license plate and then run the R.O. of the car to see if they kinda matched. I would then get back into my car a wait for the lady to pull away. I would then just mail the citation in the mail. (Now the panel threw me a "Curveball" and said what would you do if she pulled away from you? I said I would follow her home and then issue the cite there, and then they asked what would you do if she left the city limits, and then I answered I would terminate and then just mail the cite to her)

I know what you are thinking now, "What if you issue the cite to the wrong person?" I know I coverd my base on that. I would just let the person contest that in court and then ask the person wrongfully issued the cite who was driving the car on the date in question, or just plain recend the ticket.

Thanking you all in advance.
Ranger337

[DelC]

I would say your answer is at the top of the correct list. As with all oral board questions there is more than one correct or semi-correct answer.

[Ranger337]

Thank you DelC

[Birky]

Your answer works for me. the only problem would be that we can't mail tickets in Virginia so I guess we could go get a magistrate's summons but that is a pain in the rear so I probably would just let it go and you will probably get her again.:bounce:

[ranger]

Superb answer in my book on all your explinations ( probably why you ranked so high on your orals )

Be Safe,
JM

[Ranger337]

Thank you for your replies Birky, and Ranger

Ranger337

[RoscoeRuhl]

An interesting situation and like many others, one which could have several different answers. This happens more times than you would think. With minor traffic infractions, there's no need to turn something into a major problem. In this case you should probably just chalk it up as one of those times where a citation probably isn't going to correct the behavior. It's likely that this citizen doesn't want contact with anyone and it's nothing personal against you (the police). Elderly people don't normally wish contact with strangers and have problems when they're distracted from their plan. You could probably mail the citation, but then they may have no recollection of the incident. In this case, allowing her to continue on her way was the best choice.

Have a great day!

[Ranger337]

Thank you for the reply Roscoe. Anyone else have any idas?

Ranger337

[jkh206@hotmail.com]

I really dont think it matters how you answer it as long as you sound confident in your answer and dont change your answer...of course you have to answer logically...

[cwvk]

my personal opinion...

is it really worth wasting the time on the senior citizen. i know in my area ther are quite a few and as much as i hate to say it i avoid stopping them. so, not to profile, but...pick your stops.

[Ranger337]

Thank you for your reply CWVK, and I agree in part to your reply, but this was a scenerio question and I would like to see how you would answer the quetion.

Once again thank you for the reply, and I look forward to reading your reply.

Ranger337