Syllabus
Traffic Law Enforcement
SFT 400/500
Smith Hall 409
Fall Semester, 2001
INSTRUCTOR: WORK ADDRESS: E-MAIL ADDRESSES:
Scott T. Mayo, M.S., B.A. West Virginia State Police mayo11@hotmail.com
Adjunct Faculty Member Spring Valley Detachment (checked daily in evening)
Safety
Technology, CB-212 1552
Spring Valley Drive mayo1@marshall.edu
304-696-4664 (MU) Huntington, WV 25704
304-429-4611 (Home) (304) 429-3660 (Office)
CATALOGUE/COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Traffic Law and Enforcement is a course designed to study and evaluate the varied and complex system of laws governing the control of all forms of traffic and the influence and responsibilities of traffic law enforcement in present day society.
NATURE OF THE COURSE:
This course is designed for pre-service law enforcement officers, students, driver education teachers and others concerned with broadening their depth of understanding of the police traffic function. The course will critically evaluate (1) police traffic responsibilities as related to traffic control and direction; (2) total traffic law enforcement process; and (3) related areas of traffic courts and motor vehicle departments.
OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE:
1. Teach the history, development and need for traffic laws and identify landmark decisions;
2. Explain the role and function of the police officer in traffic control and enforcement;
3. Defend the need for basic traffic laws as they exist today;
4. Describe the role and need for traffic enforcement;
5. List the duties and responsibilities of the traffic officer
6. Explain the principles of psychology as they apply to the nature of the traffic law violator;
7. List the responsibilities of driver licensing agencies in the traffic problem;
8. Describe the role and function of the judicial system;
9. Explain the duties of the police officer in accident investigation.
TEXT BOOK: None.
GRADING SCALE & POLICY:
Undergraduate Graduate
Readings 100 points (10 pts. ea.) 150 points (10 pts. ea.)
Committee Assignment 50 points 50 points
Discussion/Attendance 25 points 25 points
Intersection Assignment 25 points 25 points
Quizzes 20 points +/- 20 points +/-
Graduate Student Paper ----- 100 points
Mid-term
examination 100 points 100 points
Final Exam 100 points 100 points
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE: 420 points +/- 570 points +/-
90-100% = A
80-
89 = B
70-
79 = C
60-
69 = D
Below 60 = F
As a student, nothing frustrated me more than to turn an assignment in one week and not get a graded assignment back from the instructor for 4 or 5 weeks, if at all. I will make every attempt to get all homework assignments turned in one week graded and returned to you the following week. Unfortunately, I can not promise this will be the case every week, but this is what I will strive to do.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
It is not my policy to enforce attendance in my classes. You are adults and capable of making such decisions on your own. However, this class will involve coverage of material not presented in a textbook; therefore, I strongly recommend that you make every effort to attend class. I reserve the right to give unannounced Apop quizzes@ to spur class attendance, if necessary. If you are not present in class the night a quiz is given, a >0= score will be given for that quiz and no makeup quizzes will be allowed. Likewise, if you leave early from class and a quiz is given later in the evening, a score of >0= will be recorded and you will not be allowed to make up that quiz.
You do not need an excuse from me to miss class. The registrar=s office requires that you attend at least one class during the first week of the semester or your name will be dropped from the class list. In addition, attendance at exams is REQUIRED, unless previously excused by the instructor for a legitimate reason or unforeseeable emergency. Failure to show up for the mid-term or final exam will result in the grade of >0= for that respective test, unless other arrangements are made with the instructor prior to the evening of the test
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Each undergraduate student is to read and annotate ten articles on various topics related to traffic law and/or traffic enforcement. Each graduate student is to read and annotate fifteen articles. These articles shall be typed and shall be at least one full page in length. Please double-space when typing and include the following information:
The author=s name;
The title of the article;
The name of the publication in which the article appears;
The year the article was published.
Your name
You should summarize the article in your own words. Tell me what you got out of the article. What did you learn that you didn=t know before? If you didn=t learn anything, just say so, but at least tell me about the contents of the article. Do you agree or disagree with any particular viewpoint the author had in the article (if applicable)?
2. Each student will serve on at least one of the following committees:
a. Lawyer committee
b. Judge/Magistrate committee
c. Law Enforcement committee
d. Violator committee
e. Alcohol committee
f. Driver Licensing committee
g. Other committees as needed
(See Committee sheet for further description on this assignment).
3. Each student will respond to in writing and present their findings orally for at least one (1) discussion question chosen from the supplied sheet. Graduate students will respond to two (2) discussion questions.
4. Each student will observe an intersection for a one hour time period and report on the various traffic violations witnessed. This assignment shall be turned in the following week and will be typed in double-space format.
5. There will be a mid-term and final examination, both of which will be worth 100 points.
6. Graduate students will be required to write an extra paper on a traffic safety-related problem. The topic on this paper should be discussed with the instructor and approval on said topic shall be granted prior to the student beginning work on the paper. This should be done prior to the 5th class.
The paper itself should be turned in by the last class period. If the student wishes, he/she may turn the paper in the evening of the final exam on the last night of class; however, the student should not expect to receive this paper back prior to receiving his/her final grade in the class.
Committee Assignments
SFT 400/500
The purpose of the committee assignment is to benefit the student=s knowledge and understanding of the different components that affect traffic safety, traffic laws and enforcement. If the subject of your interview can not attend class during your presentation, you are permitted to videotape the interview for presentation to the class the evening of your committee presentation, as long as the interviewee does not object to said videotaping. A typed report detailing the results of the interview will be submitted to the instructor the same evening of your presentation. Failure to submit the written report the same evening of the presentation will result in the loss of 10 points from the final score of this particular assignment.
Each committee will have a maximum of one hour of class time for each presentation. This hour shall include the major discussion and questions from you and the rest of the members of the class. If your guest fails to show up,
1. Lawyer committee - Responsible for interviewing a defense attorney, public defender, or a prosecuting attorney. This group should attempt to get the attorney interviewed to come to class the night of your committee presentation.
2. Judge/Magistrate committee - Responsible for interviewing a circuit judge, municipal judge, or a county magistrate insofar as it relates to traffic law and enforcement.
3. Law Enforcement committee - Responsible for interviewing a WV State Trooper, a county Deputy Sheriff or Sheriff, or a municipal/campus police officer. This interview shall focus on the officer=s role and function in the traffic enforcement field.
4. Violator committee - Responsible for interviewing an individual who has been convicted of several moving violations, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Negligent Homicide, or some other traffic-related violation. The intent of this interview is not to embarrass the interviewee, but for the students to understand that violators are common people who should understand the consequences and ramifications of their actions. Emphasis should be placed on the attitudes/behaviors of the interviewee and how his/her attitude affects the way he/she drives. Discussion of Aroad rage@ might be considered.
5. Alcohol Sanction committee - Responsible for interviewing someone convicted of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs. The written report for this committee should contain information which compares the laws in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio insofar as it relates to DUI. This committee should attempt to obtain a photocopy of each states DUI law.
6. Driver Licensing committee - Responsible for interviewing an employee of the Division of Motor Vehicles who should provide an overview of the licensing procedure. A copy of the driver=s manual should be turned in with your written report, which should include a summary of the licensing process in that state. This report will also contain a comparison between our licensing laws and the licensing laws of one foreign country.
SFT 400/500
Class Schedule
Fall, 2001
August 22 Orientation/Introduction/Assignments for semester
Early History of Traffic Laws
August 29 Background of Traffic Law Enforcement
September 5 Officer/Violator Relationships
September 12 Patrol Techniques
September 19 Taking Enforcement Action (citations, arrest, etc.)
September 26 Required stops, Pursuit, etc.
October 3 Speed Laws & VIOLATOR COMMITTEE PRESENTATION
October 10 MID-TERM EXAMINATION
October 17 Bicycle, Motorcycle, Pedestrian laws
October 24 Drinking & Driving, DUI laws & ALCOHOL COMMITTEE PRESENTATION
DUI VIDEO #1 & Discussion
October 31 Driver Licensing & LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE PRESENTATION
DUI VIDEO #2 & Discussion
November 7 LAWYER COMMITTEE PRESENTATION
DUI VIDEO #3 & Discussion
November 14 JUDGE/MAGISTRATE COMMITTEE PRESENTATION
November 21 Thanksgiving Vacation!! NO CLASS
November 28 All Discussion Question Responses are Due
December 5 Last Class Day and Last Day to Completely Withdraw for Fall Semester
REVIEW FOR FINAL EXAM
December 12 FINAL EXAM - Mandatory Attendance for ALL STUDENTS
December 14 Official Graduation Date for Fall Semester