The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Police Department
	General Order 2-1.2	Patrol Vehicle Equipment

1. Marked Patrol Vehicles
   
   All vehicles routinely used for patrol will be equipped with emergency lights on top of the vehicle and a siren. These patrol vehicles will also be conspicuously marked with reflective tape in such a way that it is readily identifiable by the public as a police vehicle.
2. Unmarked Vehicles
   
   Vehicles used primarily by supervisors, command level staff, detectives, and traffic enforcement must be equipped with a light and siren, but need not have exterior markings.
3. Patrol Vehicle Equipment
   
   Every vehicle routinely used for patrol will be equipped with the following items, unless budgetary constraints prohibit the purchase of same:
   • One fire extinguisher
   • One First Aid kit
   • Three traffic flares
   • One lock tool
   • One less lethal shotgun
   • One Patrol Rifle
   • One AED
   • In-car camera
   • In-car computer
   • Radar
   • Bolt cutters
   Before the beginning of each tour of duty, officers must inspect their vehicles to ensure that the appropriate equipment is available and in good working order. The officer will then complete the vehicle equipment check list online prior to starting their shift. If any equipment is found to be missing/damaged and in need of repair or replacement, the officer will make a notation on their vehicle equipment checklist and also notify the on-duty supervisor. The Logistics Officer will review submitted vehicle equipment check list and will take the appropriate steps to replace or repair the equipment.
4. Use of Emergency Equipment
   
   All calls for service will be classified as either routine or emergency. An officer's response to a call for service will be based on the nature of the call, the initial information provided, and the conditions (traffic, road, and weather) at the time of the incident.
   
   An emergency response is used when the presence of police may prevent death or injury or alleviate the threat of death or injury. Examples include but are not limited to: signal zero or officer needs assistance; dangerous felonies; life threatening medical or fire calls; and serious crimes in progress or that have just occurred. In these cases, officers are authorized to continuously use lights and siren during an emergency response.
   
   A routine response is used when the presence of the police is advantageous but not imperative. Examples include but are not limited to: property related crimes, traffic accidents without injuries, non-urgent medical calls, or general requests for services. In these cases, officers will not use lights or siren and will drive in a normal manner that adheres to all traffic regulations, including the posted speed limits.
   
   Emergency operation is anytime the vehicle is being operated in excess of the normal speed or in disregard of other traffic laws in the performance of police duties. Officers must activate blue lights and siren when driving through an intersection against a red light or a stop sign during an emergency response. When approaching an intersection against a signal or a sign and with the emergency equipment activated, officers will decrease their speed and ensure that no other vehicles are adversely affected
   
   At all times, except as noted below, when a police vehicle is involved in emergency operations, the blue lights and siren will be used and the operator shall advise communications that the vehicle is running emergency traffic. Upon notification of the emergency traffic, the telecommunicator will log the time at which the emergency traffic began and ended. A supervisor or command level officer may suspend the running of emergency traffic at any time.
   
   The use of blue lights and sirens may be excluded when overtaking vehicles for suspected violations of traffic laws, observing vehicles operated and/or occupied by suspected dangerous person(s), or when such use presents an imminent danger to the officer(s) or would aid in the escape of a wanted person(s). Once attempts to elude the officer are made by the operator of the vehicle, the policy governing emergency operation of police vehicles during pursuits shall be followed. No policy in this directive relieves the officer from the obligation to drive in a responsible manner with regard to the safety of the general public.
   
   During the performance of routine activities (e.g. traffic stops, motorist assists, and crowd control) it is permissible to use emergency equipment to command attention or direct traffic.
5. Seat Belt Use
   
   All occupants of any motor vehicle owned, leased, or operated by the UNCG Police Department must wear the provided occupant safety restraining device. Officers who have prisoners in custody are responsible for securing those individuals in the appropriate occupant safety-restraining device unless doing so would endanger the safety of the officer.
   
   The only exception to this directive is in the case where all three of the following conditions exist.
   • An officer is actively searching for a suspect
   • It is likely that the officer will need to exit the vehicle quickly
   • The vehicle is being operated at less than 20 mph