WHEREAS, The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) recognizes that traffic enforcement is an effective tool in the reduction of both traffic crashes and crime; and

WHEREAS, Traffic collisions account for more than 41,000 deaths annually, and

WHEREAS, Major contributing factors in the collisions are driver impairment, excessive speed and failure to use safety belts; and

WHEREAS, Many criminal justice recruits are not adequately trained in the techniques necessary to combat DUI, speed and safety belt enforcement; and

WHEREAS, There is a direct relationship between the professionally trained police officer in the areas of DUI, speed and occupant restraint and their ability to effectively and appropriately enforce the law; and

WHEREAS, Training programs are needed to establish and promote effective traffic enforcement techniques to assist officers in the identification and apprehension of traffic offenders; and

WHEREAS, In the United States there is not a standard recommended curriculum for training recruit officers in the field of traffic safety; and

WHEREAS, The IACP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have developed and continue to develop curriculum which facilitates the transfer of new technology and initiatives for traffic safety; and

WHEREAS, There is presently no acceptable means to enact a standard which will ensure training provided to recruits is within acceptable curriculum guidelines, and that the practice of providing a recruit with cursory training on how to detect impaired driving, speeding and occupant restraint violations, although common practice, is simply not acceptable; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), will work with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop a recommended acceptable course of study for traffic enforcement to include NHTSA’s curriculum in the areas of, but not limited to, Impaired Driving, speeding and occupant protection; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That reasonable hours of instruction shall be assigned to motor vehicle law, stopping motor vehicles, use of the uniform traffic ticket, accident investigation and death notification, along with the use of speed measurement devices; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the IACP encourages all criminal justice recruit training facilities to adhere to these standards; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the IACP encourages all criminal justice academies to provide the capability and expertise for such training in accordance with curriculum guidelines to all recruits; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the IACP will work with state police officer standards and training (POST) agencies to assure that all training facilities meet the recommended standards.