REVscene Automotive Forum - View Single Post - Do police need to wear high vis clothing when attending traffic incidents?

Spidey · 06-13-2014, 07:34 AM

Meme, I really find it hard to believe that you care about the safety of the officers, but are more frustrated that you are seeing SOME officers not wearing the vest when you are basically "forced" to for your work.

Maybe generalizing wasn't the best word to use... Maybe ignorance then? The first post you made, none of the RCMP officers in your post were even on the street. Unless you didn't know the different outfits between the city police and RCMP? Most people interchange RCMP and VPD so it happens.

Like I said before, there are a lot of factors to consider and there is more to those pictures. The problem with people and the media is that they look at pictures and videos, and pick parts of it to focus their attention on and try to fill in the blanks rather than investigate the facts. I personally have never seen officers jump on on the street without their vest on. I am not saying it doesn't happen, but you are making it sound like it happens all the time. Your pictures don't illustrate anything because they don't even show the RCMP officers on the street. As I mentioned in an earlier post, there are usually multiple officers working a traffic op. The one that sees the offence (probably not wearing a vest), and the one that conducts the stop (probably wearing a vest).

With respect to the city Police forces, you are going to have to ask them about detachment policies regarding traffic stops and wearing vests. I doubt they have to wear a vest when doing a routine traffic stop as I have never seen them wear one, and if it was required, you would see at least a few of them wearing them, but I haven't seen any. I have sent a message to a friend of mine who is VPD and am awaiting his reply.

If it was mandatory, I am sure officers would wear it. You have no idea how officers get reamed out for breaking the pettiest of policies, so I am sure this wouldn't have gone unnoticed for this long.

Lastly, IMO, the average driver won't even notice a cop wearing a vest. Traffic ops aren't only done for speeding. As some of you know (the hard way), it is one to catch distracted drivers. Distracted drivers will never see you. I have walked up to the driver's side window of a car, and the driver never saw me.. had their head down looking at their phone.

PS. you are right regarding my policy/regulation comment.

06-13-2014, 07:34 AM	#37
Spidey RS Veteran Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: vancouver Posts: 8,778 Thanked 1,265 Times in 618 Posts Failed 421 Times in 103 Posts	Meme, I really find it hard to believe that you care about the safety of the officers, but are more frustrated that you are seeing SOME officers not wearing the vest when you are basically "forced" to for your work. Maybe generalizing wasn't the best word to use... Maybe ignorance then? The first post you made, none of the RCMP officers in your post were even on the street. Unless you didn't know the different outfits between the city police and RCMP? Most people interchange RCMP and VPD so it happens. Like I said before, there are a lot of factors to consider and there is more to those pictures. The problem with people and the media is that they look at pictures and videos, and pick parts of it to focus their attention on and try to fill in the blanks rather than investigate the facts. I personally have never seen officers jump on on the street without their vest on. I am not saying it doesn't happen, but you are making it sound like it happens all the time. Your pictures don't illustrate anything because they don't even show the RCMP officers on the street. As I mentioned in an earlier post, there are usually multiple officers working a traffic op. The one that sees the offence (probably not wearing a vest), and the one that conducts the stop (probably wearing a vest). With respect to the city Police forces, you are going to have to ask them about detachment policies regarding traffic stops and wearing vests. I doubt they have to wear a vest when doing a routine traffic stop as I have never seen them wear one, and if it was required, you would see at least a few of them wearing them, but I haven't seen any. I have sent a message to a friend of mine who is VPD and am awaiting his reply. If it was mandatory, I am sure officers would wear it. You have no idea how officers get reamed out for breaking the pettiest of policies, so I am sure this wouldn't have gone unnoticed for this long. Lastly, IMO, the average driver won't even notice a cop wearing a vest. Traffic ops aren't only done for speeding. As some of you know (the hard way), it is one to catch distracted drivers. Distracted drivers will never see you. I have walked up to the driver's side window of a car, and the driver never saw me.. had their head down looking at their phone. PS. you are right regarding my policy/regulation comment. Last edited by Spidey; 06-13-2014 at 07:48 AM.