Delaware PSAs educate drivers: What to do if you get pulled over
DELAWARE – New educational videos are teaching Delaware drivers what to expect if they get pulled over and local police departments tell 47 ABC it’s a great way to make sure everyone’s on the same page.
The Delaware DMV and police hope some new PSAs will educate drivers about traffic stops. “I think it’s an excellent excellent tool for law enforcement and for our citizens,” says Chief Robert Longo with the Milton Police Department.
The videos cover topics like “What to Do and Expect When Stopped by Law Enforcement” and even how to file a complaint against an officer. “Certainly transparency is key. It’s one of our core values and I think this is a demonstration of that,” says Detective Joey Melvin with the Georgetown Police Department.
Milton’s Police Chief, Robert Longo, tells 47 ABC his officers do their best to educate drivers who get pulled over. “But sometimes people aren’t too interested in hearing from the officer when they’re receiving a ticket on why they got it and the different steps to go through.”
These videos allow residents to be in the driver’s seat of their own education, which officers say could have a positive ripple effect. “By being fully transparent as to what we expect but also reaffirming to the general public what their rights are during a traffic stop is very important and I think it can have a positive impact on our relationships with the public,” says Detective Melvin.
The hope is that if people understand the role an officer plays, during situations like these, it might help them see things a little differently. “I hope what this does is open the eyes of the citizens to see that when police officers are speaking to them we are speaking the truth,” says Chief Longo.
“There’s no doubt that that could positively mitigate what could be adverse outcomes,” says Detective Melvin.
All six of the videos are a minute and a half or less, making it easy and quick to educate yourself on your rights as a driver.
The PSAs were actually made in response to Senate Bill 168, which was passed in 2018. That bill requires people, applying for a driver’s license, to be tested on what to do if they’re pulled over. It also requires the state to put out information to help people understand those procedures.
