CHANDLER POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS Serving with Courage, Pride, and Dedication

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1 CHANDLER POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS Serving with Courage, Pride, and Dedication Order Subject F-10 FIELD OPERATIONS VEHICLE CRIMES 100 Enforcement Effective 12/16/16 Summary: A. POLICY [61.4.1] This order defines procedures for investigating incidents involving vehicles. Employees will investigate incidents involving vehicles according to departmental guidelines in this order and in General Order F-07 General Investigative Procedures B. VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS (VIN) 1. CHECK AND VERIFY VIN numbers on all stolen or recovered vehicles VINs are the only true means of determining ownership of vehicles and vehicle parts. Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) Records: All United States-made 1957 and later model vehicles are indexed at the MVD by VIN number. Foreign-made vehicles are indexed by either motor number or serial number. 2. ALTERED VIN: Per ARS , if any vehicle is found with a serial or other identification number or markings that have been removed, defaced, obliterated or changed, officers may seize the vehicle after consulting the appropriate CIB investigator 3. MOTORCYCLE IDENTIFICATION: When completing a report on a motorcycle, officers will list the correct license number from current registration lists a. Enter motorcycles into NCIC by frame number, not engine number b. Use the frame number (considered the VIN) when checking ownership C. STOLEN VEHICLES 1. REPORTS FORMS Field Operations will complete the preliminary investigation of stolen vehicles a. Complete offense report indicating theft of a vehicle b. Use a Vehicle Report (Tow Sheet) indicating the recovery of a vehicle c. Complete the auto theft supplement 2. UNLAWFUL FAILURE TO RETURN A MOTOR VEHICLE SUBJECT TO A SECURITY INTEREST: ARS a) The original responding officer will: 1) Complete the initial investigation with a general offense report and route to Auto Theft Unit 2) Obtain the necessary documentation establishing elements of the crime from the complainant/victim and include them with the original report b) DO NOT enter vehicle into ACIC/NCIC as stolen. The assigned investigator will enter the vehicle if deemed necessary. 3. CONTACT the registered owner

2 12/16/16 Page 2 D. RECOVERED VEHICLES [61.4.3] 4. TAKE A REPORT EVEN THOUGH the person reporting the incident does not know the license and/or identification number 5. MAKE A REASONABLE EFFORT to obtain the correct license and/or identification numbers, and the registered owner's name and address 6. ENTER THE VEHICLE INTO ACIC AND NCIC when VIN or LIC are confirmed by completing a supplement with the stolen vehicle entity and stolen vehicle detail page to the approval queue and a Vmail to the HNCIC handle requesting the vehicle to be entered 7. THE NCIC NUMBER is attached to the report once Records add it to ACIC/NCIC 1. REPORTING OFFICER FOR RECOVERED stolen vehicles will: a. Notify reporting agency, if not Chandler Police Department b. Request identification specialist to process the vehicle c. Make every attempt to notify the owner of the vehicle, documenting all attempts in the report. At a minimum, the officer should attempt to contact the owner by: 1) Telephone 2) In person (if the owner resides out of town, officer should request assistance from the owner s local law enforcement agency) 3) Door hangers 4) Neighbor contact d. If the owner of the vehicle cannot be contacted or cannot respond to the scene within 30 minutes, tow the vehicle, adhering to the applicable guidelines in this policy e. Have Records Unit personnel send a registered letter to the owner of all stolen/recovered vehicles if the Chandler Police Department is the originating agency f. Retains responsibility for notifying the owner of the recovered vehicle until all means of contacting the owner have been exhausted g. Request the vehicle is removed from ACIC/NCIC by sending a Vmail with recovery information to the HNCIC handle requesting the removal. A records specialist will remove the recovered stolen vehicle from ACIC/NCIC. Special note: When the officer is unable to contact the registered owner and the recovered vehicle has to be towed, the officer should request that the vehicle be entered into ACIC as a Stored Abandoned by sending a Vmail to the HNCIC handle. h. Whenever stolen vehicles are located, make a thorough investigation at the scene of the recovery to determine possible suspects, investigative leads, and fingerprints

3 12/16/16 Page 3 E. ABANDONED VEHICLES [61.4.1] [61.4.3] 2. RECOVERY OF A STOLEN VEHICLE a. Advise the Communications Center of the recovery and vehicle disposition (i.e., released to owner or impounded) b. Write a supplemental report using the same offense report number as the original stolen report if originally reported to this agency. Close new CAD call with a Refer to Original clearance. c. If vehicle was stolen in another jurisdiction, write an offense report and send a copy of the report to the agency of original jurisdiction 3. RECOVERY BY ANOTHER JURISDICTION of a vehicle stolen in Chandler a. Use the original (GTA) offense report number for the recovery supplemental report b. Obtain as much investigative information as possible from the recovering agency for the report including information on the condition, value, and storage location of the vehicle c. Request a copy of the recovering agency s report d. Request that the recovering agency attempt identification work on the vehicle Table 1. Abandoned Vehicle Responsibilities by Time of Day Time Responsibility Action 6:30 am - All on-duty Mark and report abandoned vehicles 9:00 pm patrol officers 8:00 am - 5:00 pm All on-duty patrol officers Tow abandoned vehicles a. Locate registration/owner identification or run registration check b. Check license plate and VIN for stolen report c. Attempt to locate owner and explaining ARS , - 9:00 pm - 6:30 am Citizen complaint or on view 4834, and Priority 3 call for service unless a traffic hazard a. Responding officer complete steps a. and b. above only b. Follow up officer complete step c. above 1. IF OWNER CANNOT BE CONTACTED or refuses to comply with ARS and or immediately after being contacted, the officer will initiate the following action: a. Place a lumber crayon mark on the vehicle's front tire nearest the center of the street so that it extends from the tire to the street, establishing the exact position of the vehicle b. Affix an "Unattended Vehicle Check" to the rear window of the abandoned vehicle or to the handlebars of a motorcycle c. Add vehicle to the call as an entity d. Request Dispatch to create a reoccurring call for the same location 48 hours later e. Depending if there is contact made with a responsible party: 1) If RP, complete General Offense 2) No RP, clear the call M for Motorist Assist f. Document actions taken in call clearance remarks field (M) or General Offense (GO)

4 12/16/16 Page 4 Rev F. TRAFFIC HAZARDS / DISABLED VEHICLES [61.4.1] [61.4.3] 2. THE MOTORIST ASSISTS have primary responsibility for follow-up on abandoned vehicles; however, any officer may conduct the follow-up 3. FINAL DISPOSITION a. If vehicle is subsequently moved after being tagged, the officer will so note on the original general offense or tow report if towed and will close out the report as No Contact and document actions taken in call clearance remarks field b. If after 48 hours, the vehicle has not been moved 1) Complete the tow sheet 2) Give the tow company the yellow copy 3) Request Records to enter vehicle as stored abandoned via Vmail with vehicle information to HNCIC handle 4) Close Cad Call with GO for General Offense 5) Complete General Offense c. If towed: 1) The officer shall turn in the tow sheet to their sergeant 2) The sergeant will turn in the tow sheet to the Records Unit 1. IMMEDIATE THREAT TO SAFETY: Remove or tow any vehicle or object presenting a safety threat (i.e., abandoned in roadway, blocking traffic) and for which the owner is not readily available. The officer shall: a. Provide traffic control as required, inventory, and tow without delay b. Attempt to contact the owner and advise of the reason for towing and the location to which the vehicle was towed c. Complete proper departmental reports d. Request Communications to enter the vehicle as abandoned 2. STRANDED MOTORISTS: Make every effort to assist and protect the motorist. Resources include the following: a. Request of contract tow services b. Motor clubs c. Taxi d. Other modes of transportation e. Other resources available to the officer, e.g.; changing a flat tire f. Marked units with push bars may be used to clear the travel portion of the roadway, protecting the vehicles involved 1) Use discretion as to when to use the patrol car for the purpose of pushing other vehicles. If there is any doubt, contact a supervisor. 2) Refuse to push a vehicle if to do so could result in damage to property or injury to persons. DO NOT push another vehicle if the other driver cannot handle the vehicle safely. g. Volunteer motorist assistance h. Officers may give a motorist a ride to the nearest location where assistance can be obtained 1) If the vehicle is in the roadway, assist in removing the vehicle from the roadway or ensure that traffic will safely avoid the vehicle

5 12/16/16 Page 5 G. POLICE HOLD H. NOTIFICATION REQUEST [61.4.3] 2) If the motorist requests that a contract tow truck be called to remove the vehicle, complete a tow sheet and note the reason for the tow 3. EMERGENCY ASSISTS: When assisting a stranded or disabled motorist in an emergency: a. Request the assistance needed (i.e. fire, medical or mechanical) b. Remain with the motorist until assistance arrives or there is no longer an emergency c. May render emergency first aid and fire suppression if required DO NOT PLACE A "POLICE HOLD" ON ANY VEHICLE to remain under police control. A vehicle must be seized for forfeiture or seized as evidence / instrumentality of a crime. The officer must complete a property receipt for the vehicle. The officer may request that the tow company notify the Police Department immediately when anyone inquires about the vehicle if a vehicle has been towed for safekeeping after an arrest, accident, or similar situation and additional information on the driver/owner is needed. 1. OFFICER MUST NOTE THE REQUEST and justification for it on the tow report 2. OFFICER MUST REQUEST the contracted tow company demand identification before releasing a towed vehicle including: a. An Arizona driver's license or other picture identification, b. Registration or proof of ownership, and c. A current address and telephone number 3. ANY VEHICLE REPORT CONTAINING A NOTIFICATION REQUEST must be assigned a follow-up investigation to be completed within seven days 4. RECORDS AND LOGS a. Communications maintains a tow log containing information on all vehicles towed by an officer b. The Records Unit maintains copies of all tow sheets completed c. The impounding employee will complete a property receipt for any vehicle stored by the Chandler Police Department 1) Property and Evidence holds the property receipt 2) Records holds a copy of the property receipt

6 12/16/16 Page 6 I. MANDATORY IMPOUNDS (ARS ) 1. OFFICERS SHALL IMPOUND vehicles for 30 days if all of the following conditions exist: a. The person s driving privilege is canceled, suspended, or revoked for any reason, or the driver has never been issued a driver s license or permit and the person does not produce evidence of a driver s license issued by another jurisdiction, and b. The person is not in compliance with the financial responsibility requirements, and c. The person is driving a vehicle that has been involved in an accident that results in either property damage or injury to or death of another person 2. OFFICERS SHALL IMPOUND vehicles for 30 days when any of the following conditions exist: a. The person s driving privilege is revoked or suspended for any reason. (If valid AZ driving privilege, regardless of driving status in other states, do not impound.) b. According to MVD records, the person has not ever been issued a driver license or permit, and the person cannot produce evidence of a driver license issued by any jurisdiction c. The person is subject to an ignition interlock device pursuant to chapter 4 title 28 but operating a car without interlock device. (Does not apply to employer vehicle or vehicle driven due to a substantial emergency as defined in ARS ) d. The officer has probable cause to arrest the driver of the vehicle for a violation of 4-244(34)(Driving under the age of 21 with any alcohol in their system), (Extreme DUI), or (Aggravated driving under the influence) Exception to DUI related mandatory impound only: AN OFFICER SHALL NOT CAUSE THE IMPOUNDMENT of a vehicle if ALL of the following apply: 1) The officer determines that the vehicle is currently registered and that the driver or the vehicle is in compliance with the financial responsibility requirements of chapter 9, article 4 of ) The spouse of the driver is with the driver at the time of the arrest 3) The officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the spouse of the driver: a) Has a valid driver license b) Is not impaired by intoxicating liquor, any drug, a vaporreleasing substance containing a toxic substance or any combination of liquor, drugs, or vapor-releasing substances c) Does not have any spirituous liquor in the spouse s body if the spouse is under 21 years of age 4) The spouse notifies the peace officer that the spouse will drive the vehicle from the place of arrest to the driver s home or other place of safety 5) The spouse drives the vehicle as prescribed in paragraph 4) 3. WHEN AN OFFICER IMPOUNDS A VEHICLE pursuant to ARS :

7 12/16/16 Page 7 a. The officer shall serve a Tow Sheet and Notice of Impound and Release Process form on the driver at the scene of the impound if possible b. Give a copy of the tow sheet to the tow truck driver at the scene c. The officer will request Records to enter vehicle as impounded via Vmail with vehicle information to HNCIC handle from MDT d. The officer will run and print the vehicle registration. Place the printed vehicle registration and the yellow copy of the tow sheet in the Impound Notice basket located in Records e. The Impound Specialist will prepare for mailing the Notice of Impound and the vehicle registration for each person with a registered interest and deliver them to the post office once each workday 4. STORE VEHICLES IMPOUNDED PURSUANT to this provision with the contract tow company unless the vehicle must be stored at Property and Evidence for investigative purposes

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