SPD talk about traffic stops

For many residents in the City of Sheridan traffic stops are the only enforcement contact most people have with the Sheridan Police Department. 

According to a 2021 study conducted by Stanford Computational Policy Lab, police pull over more than 50,000 drivers on a typical day in the U.S., more than 20 million motorists every year. It is the most common police interaction with the public. 

According to Sheridan Police Captain Tom Ringley, the intent behind traffic stops is simple: the SPD would like residents to willingly follow ordinances and statutes to make sure everyone can go about their business without injury or property damage and without delay by law enforcement.  

When the SPD addresses a violation, they are ending or preventing dangerous situations or trying to change future behavior, Ringley said. 

Of all the traffic stops in Sheridan to take place in 2021, 72% resulted in a written warning. Ringley told listeners of Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse program that officers examine many factors in each traffic stop to determine if a citation or a warning is issued. Everything ranging from prior warnings, the severity of a violation and environmental conditions are examined by the officer. 

In the City of Sheridan during the 2021 year, there were a total of 6617 traffic stops conducted by the SPD. Between the years of 2018-20, the average number of stops in a year was 6984. Of those stops in 2021, only 28% were issued written citations.

The department employs other methods of enforcement to keep the peace and the public safe. These include high visibility of law enforcement,  reviewing data of where accidents occur. High visibility and enforcement during the hours when most Driving While Under the Influence arrests occur. These numbers are produced by traffic studies and reviewing information regularly.