This will vary from different training schools and methods but a basic rundown would be:
1 Pull the vehicle over and position the squad car a bit to the driver's side, giving the officer a preferable safety zone in case of sudden violence or accidents involving other motorists
2a View the situation. Visibility into the vehicle - tinted windows, panel walls, etc… How many known occupants in the vehicle? Movement within the vehicle - are occupants jumpy, are they “cleaning”, are they calm and patient
2b Request information on the vehicle make, model, color, and license plate. These should match the database
3 Assuming a no-warnings return on the vehicle check, approach the vehicle on the driver's side cautiously, viewing any and all occupants while visually scanning for obvious contraband
4 Assuming no illegal items or activities are apparent, If the driver's window is closed, ask the driver to open the window. While watching all occupants, as the driver for paperwork (license - proof of right to drive, insurance card - a proof vehicle is legally insured, registration - proof the vehicle belongs to, or is reasonably operable by the driver and matching the database information on the vehicle.
5 Inform the driver of the reason for stopping. Some officers may ask if the person is aware of the reason first - this may get the driver to admit guilt. It’s not a trick, and it's ok to say “I don’t know”.
6 Assess the information available and determine if a citation is warranted - in most jurisdictions, stopping the vehicle requires a citation but the officer may be allowed, at their discretion, to provide a warning instead.
7 Return to a squad car and write the citation/warning.
8 Return to the vehicle and serve the citation/warning.
Note: At any given moment these steps may change and may devolve into an arrest if the actions of the driver OR passengers warrant. Most traffic stops can be “routine”, although that is a dirty word in police work if no one acts out of place. It's irritating to be caught doing something wrong, especially if you truly believe you were not in the wrong. Stay calm and the officer will stay calm. Belligerence and/or agitation will cause the officer to react in light of their own and/or the public’s safety.
There may be other steps involved. As I said, these things differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and department to department (a sheriff’s deputy may not operate the same as a local policeman or a state policeman in the same city or county.
Explanation:
Hope this helped.
