What to do if you are stopped by the University Police

You may have committed a traffic offense.

You may fit the description of someone whom the police are seeking.

The officer may think you are in trouble and in need of help.

You may have witnessed a crime and the police may seek your assistance in identifying a person involved.

If you are stopped by the police, you should make every effort to be cooperative, and you can expect the officer to be courteous in return.

Our officers know that most people do not want to be stopped by the police, and they understand that you may feel some degree of anxiety if you are stopped. Keep in mind however, the officer who stops you may be feeling a high level of anxiety too. Because even seemingly “routine” traffic stops can be dangerous situations for officers, the police are trained to approach them with extreme caution.

Stay in your car unless the officer advises you otherwise.

Keep your hands on the steering wheel so the officer can see them.

Try to stay calm. Getting agitated with the officer or with others will not help the situation.

Avoid making sudden movements especially toward the floor, rear seat or passenger side of the vehicle.

Do not reach for your license or other documents until the officer requests them. (NYS law requires drivers to show their license, registration, and insurance card upon request)

If the stop occurs at night, put on your dome/interior lights so the officer can easily see that all is in order.

If the officer issues you a ticket for reasons that are unclear to you, ask the officer for information, but don’t become argumentative or antagonistic. Accepting a traffic ticket is not an admission of guilt. You can contest the ticket in court.

Patrol cars are often staffed by only one officer. However, given the inherent dangers of traffic stops, officers often request backups when stopping a vehicle. Therefore you might see two or three police vehicles involved in a traffic stop.

Some offenses prohibit continued operation of the vehicle by the driver. Therefore, in certain situations, an officer may impound a car or ask another licensed driver to drive the car. Officers may not, however, take your car without due cause.

Remember that students are required to cooperate with the valid directives of University officials, including University police officers. Failure to do so may result in judicial charges (see Rules of Student Conduct). In addition New York State law forbids a person to use physical force to resist an arrest, even if the arrest is later found to be unauthorized.

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Whom should you contact with questions regarding the University Police?

Questions, comments, complaints, and compliments may be directed to:

William C. Dunn

Assistant Chief of Police

Timothy R. Faughnan

Deputy Chief of Police

Police Administration (607) 777-2275

Police Dispatch (607) 777-2393

Email: bupolice@binghamton.edu

Web: http://police.binghamton.edu

You may also contact the University Ombudsman (UO) at (607) 777-2388 for advice. The UO, who is completely separate from the University Police, offers strictly confidential assistance to the University community on a broad range of matters.