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Subject: Motorscooters |
Series Number 301. 10 Effective
Date October 27, 1980
Revision
Date * |
The purpose of this
order is to establish the policy and procedures for members relating to the
operation of departmental motor scooters. This order consists of the following
parts:
Part I Responsibilities
and Procedures for Members of the
Department
A.
Definitions.
B.
Duties
and Responsibilities of Operators.
C.
Training.
D.
Operational
Requirements and Prohibitions.
Part II Responsibilities
and Procedures for Supervisory and Command Personnel
A. Officials.
B. Commanding Officers.
Part I
A. Definitions.
for the purpose of this order the following definitions shall
apply:
1. "Motorscooter" is any motorcycle or motor driven cycle,
as defined the D.C. Highways ant Traffic Regulations, which is the property of
the Metropolitan Police Department and is not equipped as an authorized
emergency vehicle.
2. "Operator"
s any member of the department, regardless of rank, assigned to operate a
departmental motorscooter.
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General
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B. General Duties and Responsibilities of
Operators.
Operators are considered to be foot patrol officers with a means of increased mobility. As such, they shall:
1. Performing
the duties of a foot patrol officer on similar assignment, and be guided, to
the extent possible, by the provisions of General Order No. 201.26 (Duties, and
Conduct of Members of the Department).
2. Spend
at least 50% of their tour of duty on foot patrol if assigned to a motorscooter.
4. Re
assigned only to motorscooter duty and not utilized
in other capacities such as relief clerk, Scout car relief, etc., unless
absolutely necessary.
5. Periodically
dismount and patrol on foot, unless directed otherwise by an official.
C. Training.
The
following considerations snail be satisfied prior to
the selection of personnel for motorscooter operator
training:
1. The member has volunteered.
2. Medical
records have been reviewed for any past history of injuries which may be
aggravated by motorscooter duty, especially back or
knee injuries.
3.
Sick
leave records nave been reviewed for any past history of back and knee
ailments.
4. Departmental,
state or District of Columbia vehicular accident records have been renewed with
particular attention to information on the operation of two-wheel vehicles.
D. Operational Requirements and Prohibitions
1. Members shall not operate motorscooters
unless they:
a. Volunteer
to be assigned to the position of motorscooter
operator.
b. Have
been motorscooter trained and certified by the
Vehicle Skills Section, Training Division.
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c. Possess
a valid license issued by the Jurisdiction in which they reside to Operate a motorscooter or
motorcycle.
2. Motorscooter
Maintenance
a. Each
member snail be assigned to a specific motorscooter that he/she shall operate on a permanent basis
during his / her shift.
(Exanple: Motorscooter operators
Officer John Jones from A Section, Officer Mary Smith from B Section, and
Officer James Green from C Section will each be assigned to Motorscooter
8D-11 which will be operated on a permanent basis on their respective shifts.)
b. Prior
to operating a motorscooter, the operator shall:
(1) Conduct
a thorough inspection of the vehicle to ensure that all necessary equipment and
lights are present and functioning.
(2) Immediately
report any damage or malfunctioning equipment to an official and record the
Information on PD Form 775 (Daily Vehicle Inspection and Activity
Report),Section 8, and comply with the provisions of General Orders 301.1
(Vehicle Operation and Maintenance) and
201.7
(Review Boards).
(3) Not
operate a malfunctioning or damaged motorscooter
without supervisory approval.
C. When
operating motorscooters, members shall:
(1) Comply with the applicable provisions c’ the D.C. Highways and
Traffic Regulations, as far as is consistent with the performance of police
duties and the apprehension of law violators.
(2) Wear
the department issued motorscooter helmet with the
chin strap securely fastened.
(3) Wear the department issued visibility
jacket.
(4)
keep both hands on the handlebars except to
operate their radio or when giving hand signals.
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General
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August
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(5) Exercise
caution when operating portable radios while their motorscooter
is in motion; if possible, they shall bring the motorscooter
to a halt, out of the flow of traffic, to
use the radio.
(6) Wear
a protective transparent face shield or protective eyeglasses whenever the motorscooter is not equipped with a windshield.
d. When
dismounting, operators shall:
(1) Park
in compliance with the traffic regulations,
(2) Lock
and secure their motorscooter, and
(3) Remove the key. General
Order No. 301.10
e. Operators
may make traffic stops under the following guidelines:
(1) The
stop shall be made from the side toward the center roadway of the violator’s
vehicle, never from the curb side.
(2) Operators
shall not pursue speeding vehicles for the purpose of effecting
a traffic stop.
f. Motorscooter operators involved in traffic accidents shall
comply with all applicable provisions of General Orders 301.1 and 201.7.
3. Prohibitions.
Operators shall not:
a. Permit
operation of their motorscooter by anyone else,
except when directed by an official.
b. Transport
a second rider.
c. Wear
sunglasses during periods of darkness or reduced visibility. Any exceptions
(i.e., eye stigmatisms that require a prescription for specially tinted lenses,
etc.) ;hall require the approval of a clinic
physician.
d.
Smoke
while operating or refueling their
motorscooter.
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e. Routinely patrol or operate their motorscooter on any of the various limited roadways,
highways and freeways within the District of Columbia, (e.g., 1-395 and Its
accesses, Third Street Tunnel, Ninth Street Tunnel, Southeast/Southwest Freeways,
1-295, Whitehurst Freeway, Suitland Parkway, etc.) except in emergency
situations or when authorized by an official and then only when exercising the
greatest degree of caution.
PART
II Officials.
1. Officials
who operate motorscooters shall be guided by the provisions
of this order to the extent Consistent with the performance of their supervisory
duties.
2. Officials
shall comply with General Order 301.8 (Departmental Vehicular Safety Program)
when they observe any unsafe driving actions by motorscooter
operators under their command.
B. Commanding
Officers of each element utilizing motor scooters shall:
1. Make
the determination as to which of the volunteers are to be selected and trained
for motor scooter operation.
2. Determine
whether motor scooters should be operated by members of during periods of
inclement weather.
3. Ensure
that any damage to a department motor scooter is properly and that
responsibility is appropriately placed.
4. Forward
reports of accidents involving motor Scooters to the Vehicle Review Board in
accordance with General Order 201.7.
