Modes of Traffic Enforcement for Provincial Police Officers

May 26, 2014

There are dozens of roles that provincial police officers fill as protectors of the peace, but few play such a notable and public part in daily life as that of traffic enforcement. In civilized nations such as Canada, rampant crime usually is not a major problem and as such, most of the offenses and violations of the law that occur relate to individuals’ behaviors while on the road. Anyone who plans to become a provincial officer in the near future may find the subject of traffic enforcement interesting, as it is very likely that this will be a major part of your day to day job. Below, we’ll discuss the main components of traffic enforcement and explain how you can prepared for what each department handles.

Aircraft Traffic

You may not first think of aircraft when you hear the phrase “traffic enforcement”, but it nonetheless plays a huge role in what provincial officers do in the world of traffic monitoring. Police officers will be required to understand the basic protocols of airport security and how to safely monitor the take-offs and landings of aircraft in a given jurisdiction. In addition to this, some officers will be trained on how to operate provincial police aircraft, which are responsible for patrolling the skies and ensuring that all traffic laws in the air are also enforced. In many cases, on-the-ground traffic enforcement is aided by provincial police aircraft that can monitor situations – such as high-speed chases – from the air.

Traffic Safety Programs

The bulk of what traffic enforcement entails, traffic safety programs encompass traditional traffic stops and monitoring in a given jurisdiction. Provincial police fulfil these needs by monitoring traffic hot spots for illegal activities and traffic violations in order to ensure that as few accidents and crimes occur as possible. This can be done through simple patrols, designated checkpoints and roadblocks, as well as radar monitoring of intersections to deter traffic violations. Officers in this capacity will keep an eye out for those who are speeding, those who are not wearing seat belts and those who are operating vehicles while under the influence.

Off-Road Traffic

In some cases, off-road traffic enforcement and assistance will be required. The off-road traffic departments of provincial police forces are often used in remote and rural areas, where traditional vehicles simply cannot be used. In a large number of cases, police officers will man all-terrain vehicles in order to access areas where life-threatening situations have developed or where crime reports dictate the need of police. This is also the case along the nation’s waterways, with the goal being to reduce the instance of death and injury when individuals find themselves amidst the elements of Mother Nature.

Traffic enforcement plays a key role in law enforcement at the provincial level, with the main goal being to ensure the safety and day-to-day integrity of an area’s roads and navigable areas. Whether you are ready to join the ranks of law enforcement or have already been involved for quite some chances, there is a virtually 100% chance that you will be involved with traffic enforcement units at some point in the future.