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* Karen Jordan at ABC 7…
Students in Illinois driver’s education classes will soon be required to learn something new before they can get behind the wheel. A new law requires instruction time on how to handle being stopped by the police.
Governor Bruce Rauner signed the bill into law on Friday. The change is aimed at preventing teens from panicking when being pulled over, and also from doing anything that may seem like a red flag to police. […]
“It’s important for individuals to know what conduct they should demonstrate when they’re stopped by a law enforcement officer,” Jesse White, Secretary of State, said.
Retired Chicago police officer Eddie Chapman has made it his mission to educate new drivers. Ten years ago, he wrote a poster book called “Drive Safe, Stop Safe,” which explains what to do during a traffic stop. The book is used in Chicago Public Schools.
Chapman said it’s important to stay calm, keep your hands on the wheel and cooperate with the officer.
Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:30 am
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Excellent and long overdue
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:35 am
Question: Same instructions if they stole the car?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:35 am
Chris Rock has a tutorial similar to this. Google it.
Comment by Carpenter Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:42 am
Will the instructions also teach students they have the right to refuse searches of their vehicles absent a search warrant or probable cause?
Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:43 am
This was a part of the Drivers Ed Class I took in high school. Must of just been a good instructor.
Comment by Dan S Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:47 am
There are less cops than teenagers so why don’t we just teach cops not to shoot kids? or anyone else unless absolutely necessary to protect themselves or someone else.
Comment by Spliff Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:51 am
I hope the instructors can teach the students that the police are afraid of them. I’d call the section “Don’t scare the cop!”
It is a good law.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:52 am
Eh I don’t like it. Besides giving name, address, title, and insurance, say nothing, do nothing. Demand an attorney.
Comment by Mr.Black Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:54 am
Good idea. If it prevents one kid from getting shot because he reached for his wallet and the cop thought he was going for a gun, it will have been worth it.
Comment by SAP Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:54 am
More of this please. They’ll be a lot fewer incidents if both the cop and the motorist in each traffic stop treat each other with respect and in a non-confrontational matter.
Kudos to Hurley and Morrison for passing a really solid bill.
Comment by Phil T. Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:59 am
So according to the article, this is currently taught in the city of Chicago. Hmmmm…
Comment by Seymourkid Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:04 pm
We had the resource officer in the school spend most of a class period on this during driver’s ed back around the turn of the century. I’m shocked it wasn’t a standard.
Comment by Dee Lay Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:04 pm
Clueless.
Comment by crazybleedingheart Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:11 pm
Simple…Do as instructed by the officer(s). If you feel like your rights have been violated deal with it in another venue not on the street. If you want confrontation you will get all you can stand and then some. As one would expect police are on edge why give them a reason to haul you in. Citing your constitutional rights in your car not gonna get you to far.
Comment by the Cardinal Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:15 pm
About time. I think we used to count on parents to do this but it isn’t getting done. this should help.
Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:17 pm
Traffic stops (along with domestic calls) are among the most dangerous for police officers.
Giving young people training on how to keep everybody safe will save lives.
This is great.
Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:18 pm
The classic Chris Rock bit on police stops: (NSFW)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0mtxXEGE8
Comment by Gantt Chart Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:25 pm
meh, how anout training for police so that unarmed people laying in the ground do not get shot. this seems to transfer the problem of police excessive force to the victims.
imagine a law requiring women to be taught how to dress to avoid being raped. same thing here. blaming the victims not the source.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:29 pm
I think its a good idea.
Comment by burbanite Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:32 pm
I support teaching teens what to do generally but might quibble with the specifics. As the parent of a teen driver, this is not something I would have thought to discuss.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:32 pm
It is a good idea, and not just for minority kids. The privileged kids should learn this too (even though their lives aren’t at risk over it).
I learned from some cops the dos and don’ts, although my motivation was to keep them in the best possible mood so as to maybe avoid or minimize the ticket I had probably earned.
Comment by titan Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:32 pm
20 plus years ago I wrote a paper for one of my graduate courses on the statistical link between students with learning disabilities and Juvenal delinquency.
I forget the exact numbers but based on the research and data the is rate, when compared top non-LD peers, of LD students being adjudicated. The findings supported the poor social skills and an inability to understand social cues as a leading factor. The findings for students living in poverty is similar.
What we did was to overtly teach kids how to properly interact with adults in job interviews, when confronted by authority figures, and in general social situations. We never did any research but I think it helped. Reading the work of Ruby Payne was also an eye opener and helped many of our teachers who were mostly white middle to upper middle class (and never had negative experiences with the police or most authority figures) understand some of the challenges kids face when they don’t have the same supports they had in life.
Interestingly enough, the research mentioned that non-LD kids interact with police about as much as their LD peers but, because they have better social skills (as a general group) they faced adjudication far less frequently.
Everyone should be doing this, especially if they have at-risk populations.
Good legislation.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:37 pm
I wonder if it will include a key understanding of the civil rights and liberties of the driver — such as
“I’m sorry officer, you’ll need a warrant for that.”
And so forth.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 1:03 pm
I am anxiously awaiting input from Illinois Bob on this post.
Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 1:08 pm
I agree with the bill but I bemoan the fact you have to teach what should be common sense …
If your goal is to not get a ticket after being stopped (or maybe just receive a warning, assuming no wants / warrants), you are nice to the officer and follow orders, period.
If you think it is unfair, argue later in court.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 1:14 pm
This is only one half of a practical solution to reduce fatalities at traffic stops. There should be a well-choreographed and well-publicized pattern that both cops and motorists are trained to follow. If they both know the dance, there’s a better chance they can avoid the worst outcome when there’s no real threat. A familiar procedure is especially important if the motorist is carrying.
Think of how film and TV portrayals of the recitation of Miranda rights became a part of our popular culture. Why not put something similar in place to get everyone on the same page and keep routine traffic stops routine.
Comment by X-prof Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 1:22 pm
This is a good idea. It’s no panacea, but as part of a bigger effort to prevent confrontations between the police and citizens, it makes a lot of sense. State law already requires de-escalation training for officers — obviously, not all cops take it to heart.
Comment by Ricardo Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 1:50 pm
40 years ago, my brother in law, who is now a retired Sargent from the LAPD told me that you always ask permission of the officer to reach for your registration in the glove compartment, then move very slowly if it is granted.
Comment by one of the 35 Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 1:52 pm
Public policy that requires something that is done at a 95% rate already is really self political promotion- that is what this is. You can “require” anything to be taught but ensuring that individuals act accordingly is much tougher. Of course this should be taught and has been for a long, long, long time especially based n comments- this really solves nothing. Guess it makes politicians look good though. Calling it what it is.
Comment by Yo Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 2:07 pm
DUH. excellent idea. This was taught in my drivers ed class. I’ve seen discussions about this on tv lately, and there is way too much of “why do I have to do this/the man” attitude. hey, guess what? we all have to do this. imagine you are a police officer coming up on a car and some guy (or gal) has his hands where the officer cannot see them. until s/he sees the hands, the thought is that there is a weapon. not a cell phone, not “I’m reaching for my concealed carry permit,” a weapon. Police have their lives on the line every single day. the least a driver can do is put hands on the wheel when pulled over. no I have not been profiled for race. but I have been given guff for a Hillary bumper sticker. I get that cops can be snarky, that people have been shot. but the equation needs to be balanced so cops can do their job. snipers are meeting against cops. this bill helps get reality into life.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 2:41 pm
Simply keeping your hands on the wheel and saying “yes, sir, and no, sir will probably solve most problems. I personally wouldn’t agree to a warrantless search, but then again, I’m an older white guy…
Comment by downstate commissioner Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 5:09 pm
@Yo
Both of my daughters have taken drivers ed in Chicago schools during the last three years. Just checked with them and both said this was NOT part of the curriculum. So, maybe this law is a better idea than you think.
Comment by BC Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 5:25 pm
Put both hands on the steering wheel and if at night turn on your dome light then put your hands on the wheel so the officer can see you plainly. This way he is more at ease when approaching the vehicle. Then be polite.
Comment by Crispy Critter Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 5:26 pm
Keep your hands on the wheel, then when you reach for your license and registration, you get shot like the guy in Minnesota.
Comment by DuPage Dave Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 6:40 pm
I like this. I work with and know several offices from local to state level. I was going to ask most of them to walk my up coming drivers ed children through a traffic stop. Just for this very reason.
Comment by 618er Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 7:24 pm
I see this as another mandate imposed upon public education teachers. It seems that more often they are expected to teach behavioral and social expectations once expected of parents. I’m also disturbed that one should expect to take a victim mentality to the police, as if their aggression is acceptable.
Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 7:26 pm
Here’s hoping the Policeman does the same, and that the training they need can help them to handle the stop in a civil way.
Comment by Ms. SHEESH Wednesday, Aug 10, 16 @ 8:38 am