Careers: Police/Traffic Officer

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Expert: - 4/7/2010


Question
QUESTION: I am from NY. Can a traffic officer stop a moving car and give a ticket? I was stopped by a traffic officer and given a ticket because I stopped at interception and caused the traffic. (The only thing the traffic officer forgot to mention that I was letting the old lady with a stroller to pass at the interception, although it was my green light but I could not overrun her.)

My question.
1) Can a traffic officer stop me and do I have to stop?
2) If yes, do I have to provide my drivers license if asked to?
2) Is the fact that he misspelled my last name by missing a letter on a ticket is irrelevant?

Thank you very much for you advice. Thank you a lot
Kind Regards,

Ilya

ANSWER: Ilya,

I am not sure what you mean by "traffic officer".  In my area a traffic officer is a police officer who is primarily assigned to the enforcement of traffic laws.  I have a feeling that is not what you are talking about.

Please let me know what a traffic officer does and what his job is.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Jack,

I believe I meant a parking enforcement officer or a parking attendant;  sometimes they being called parking inspector who usually give out tickets for expired meters and other parking violations. He was not a police officer.

Answer
I did a little research and if you are NYC I think you mean "traffic agents".  This is what I found but it does not answer your question about their authority to make traffic stops.

 http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/pr/pr_2008_ph12.shtml

An error on a ticket makes no difference.  What does matter is what the officer testifies to in court.

I'm sorry that I couldn't be of more help but this is the first time I have heard of a quasi police officer.  But then again I have never been to NYC.

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Jack Toomey

Expertise

U.S.: I am an expert in this category for the purpose of giving young people an idea what the hiring process involves for the position of police officer. I am getting a flood of questions from young people who are being influenced by unrealistic television shows. I'd ask you to consider that when you watch police shows on television that they are NOT realistic and most of what you see does not happen in real life. Please do not ask me about potential jail sentences that you, your friends, or family might receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer so I cannot answer questions about probation and parole matters. I am a retired police officer with 26 years experience.I worked in a variety of assignments including investigations, homicide, sex crimes, runaway investigations, missing persons, and fraud.I also dealt with the general public during that time giving a wide range of advice on matters such as domestic disputes, problem solving, teenage problems, civil/criminal matters, and dealing with the mentally ill. I am available to give sound and reasonable advice which can solve most problems. Please do not ask me to do homework questions or online interviews. Young people should not rely on the Internet for interviews. Local police officers are normally very agreeable to assist students with interviews and surveys.

Experience

Worked as a police officer/detective for 26 years.

Graduate of the University of Maryland.B.S. in Law Enforcement.Attended numerous schools and training courses involving investigations, interviewing, interrogations, crime detection, domestic violence, and others. Recognized in court as an expert witness.

Received numerous awards during my police career for expert investigations. Handled the most sensitive and confidential investigations. In 1999 I won an award for my work with high school students while working in my new career in a large suburban high school.

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