Traffic stops are one of the most common incidents law enforcement officers deal with. A traffic stop can take a wrong turn in the blink of an eye, so it is very important to be able to communicate with your subjects. This section will give you the phrases and words needed to conduct a safe traffic stop. Don't forget to look back at the places section to brush up on your vocab.
Introductions
Here are a few things you might want to say when you first approach a vehicle.
Hola. Buenos días. (OHL-ah. BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs) - Hello. Good morning.
Necesito hablar con usted (neh-seh-SEE-toh ah-BLAHR KOHN oo-STEHD) - I need to speak with you
¿Sabe por qué lo paré? (SAH-beh POHR KEH LOH pah-REH) - Do you know why I stopped you?
¿Sabe lo que hizo? (SAH-beh LOH KEH EE-soh) - Do you know what you did?
Ha violado la ley (AH vee-oh-LAH-doh LAH LEH-ee) - You have broken the law
¿Sabe cuán rapido estaba manejando? (SAH-beh KWAHN rah-PEE-doh eh-STAH-bah mah-neh-HAHN-doh) - Do you know how fast you were driving?
¿Sabe el límite de velocidad? (SAH-beh EHL LEE-mee-teh DEH veh-loh-see-DAHD) - Do you know what the speed limit is?
Hágase a un lado (AH-gah-seh AH OON LAH-doh) - Pull over
The Reasons
There are several reasons to initiate a traffic stop. Here is a list of some common violations that may require a traffic stop.
Parace que hay un problema (pah-RAH-seh KEH AH-ee OON proh-BLEH-mah) - There seems to be a problem
Estaba haciendo carreras (eh-STAH-bah ah-see-EHN-doh kah-RREH-rahs) - You were racing
Su carga no está segura (SOO KAHR-gah NOH eh-STAH seh-GOO-rah) - Your load is unsecure
Estaba retrocediendo (eh-STAH-bah reh-troh-seh-dee-EHN-doh) - You were backing up
Estaba zigzagueando (eh-STAH-bah seeg-sahg-eh-AHN-doh) - You were swerving
Estaba manejando muy lento (eh-STAH-bah mah-neh-HAHN-doh MOO-ee LEHN-toh) - You were driving too slow
Estaba siguiendo muy cerca (eh-STAH-bah see-gee-EHN-doh MOO-ee SEHR-kah) - You were following too close
No es una distancia segura (NOH EHS OO-nah dee-STAHN-see-ah seh-GOO-rah) - It isn't a safe distance
Estaba manejando muy rápido (eh-STAH-bah mah-neh-HAHN-doh MOO-ee RAH-pee-doh) - You were driving too fast
Estaba manejando contra el tráfico (eh-STAH-bah mah-neh-HAHN-doh KOHN-trah EHL TRAH-fee-koh) - You were going against traffic
No cedió el paso (NOH seh-dee-OH EHL PAH-soh) - You did not yield
No paró para la ambulancia (NOH pah-ROH PAH-rah LAH ahm-boo-LAHN-see-ah) - You did not stop for the ambulance
No paró para el carro de policía (NOH pah-ROH PAH-rah EHL KAH-rroh DEH poh-lee-SEE-ah) - You did not stop for the police car
No paró para el peatón (NOH pah-ROH PAH-rah EHL peh-ah-TOHN) - You did not stop for the pedestrian
No paró para el camión de bomberos (NOH pah-ROH PAH-rah EHL kah-mee-OHN DEH bohm-BEH-rohs) - You did not stop for the fire truck
No paró para el autobús escolar (NOH pah-ROH PAH-rah EHL ow-toh-BOOS) - You did not stop for the school bus
No paró para el tren (NOH pah-ROH PAH-rah EHL TREHN) - You did not stop for the train
Está tirando basura (eh-STAH tee-RAHN-doh bah-SOO-rah) - You were littering
Está obstruida (eh-STAH ohb-stroo-EE-dah) - It's blocked off
Necesita moverlo (neh-seh-SEE-tah moh-VEHR-loh) - You need to move it
Es zona escolar (EHS SOH-nah ehs-koh-LAHR) - It's a school zone
Tiene demasiados pasajeros (tee-EH-neh deh-mah-see-AH-dohs pah-sah-HEH-rohs) - You have too many passengers
Tiene que disminuir la velocidad (tee-EH-neh KEH dees-mee-noo-EER LAH veh-loh-see-DAHD) - You have to slow down
No obedeció la señal (NOH oh-beh-deh-see-OH LAH seh-NYAHL) - You didn't obey the sign
No hizo las señales (NO EE-soh LAHS seh-NYAH-lehs) - You did not signal
Casi chocó (KAH-see choh-KOH) - You nearly crashed
Casi le pegó (KAH-see LEH peh-GOH) - You nearly hit it
Paró de repente (pah-ROH DEH reh-PEHN-teh) - You stopped suddenly
Cruzó la línea (kroo-SOH LAH LEE-neh-ah) - You crossed over the line
Va en ambas direcciones (VAH EHN AHM-bahs dee-rehk-see-OH-nehs) - It goes in both directions
Pasó por la luz roja (pah-SOH POHR LAH LOOS ROH-hah) - You went through the red light
No paró para la luz roja (NOH pah-ROH PAH-rah LAH LOOS ROH-hah) - You did not stop for the red light
Hizo una vuelta ilegal (EE-soh OO-nah voo-EHL-tah ee-leh-GAHL) - You made an illegal turn
Su visibilidad está obstruida (SOO vee-see-bee-lee-DAHD eh-STAH ohb-stroo-EE-dah) - Your visibility is obstructed
Necesita estacionarlo (neh-seh-SEE-tah eh-stah-see-oh-NAHR-loh) - You need to park it
No puede manejar sin licencia (NOH PWEH-deh mah-neh-HAHR SEEN lee-SEHN-see-ah) - You cannot drive without a license
Ha expirado se licencia (AH ehks-pee-RAH-doh SEH lee-SEHN-see-ah) - Your license has expired
Necesita renovarlo (neh-seh-SEE-tah reh-noh-VAHR-loh) - You need to renew it
Su licencia ha sido cancelada (SOO lee-SEHN-see-ah AH SEE-doh kahn-seh-LAH-dah) - Your license has been revoked
Su licencia es suspendido (SOO lee-SEHN-see-ah EHS soos-pehn-DEE-doh) - Your license is suspended
Su licencia es falso (SOO lee-SEHN-see-ah EHS FAHL-soh) - Your license is fake
Han expirado sus placas (AHN ehks-pee-RAH-doh SOOS PLAH-kahs) - Your license plates have expired
No puede obstruir el tráfico (NOH PWEH-deh ohb-stroo-EER EHL TRAH-fee-koh) - You cannot block traffic
No puede pararse ahí (NOH PWEH-deh pah-RAHR-seh ah-HEE) - You cannot stop there
No puede dar vuelta aquí (NOH PWEH-deh DAHR voo-EHL-tah ah-KEE) - You cannot turn here
No puede darse vuelta en U (NOH PWEH-deh DAHR-seh voo-EHL-tah EHN OO) - You cannot make a U-turn
No puede pasar por el lado derecho (NO PWEH-deh pah-SAHR POHR EHL LAH-doh deh-REH-choh) - You cannot pass on the right
No puede manejar sin un adulto (NO PWEH-deh mah-neh-HAHR SEEN OON ah-DOOL-toh) - You cannot drive without an adult
No puede remolcar otro carro (NOH PWEH-deh reh-mohl-KAHR OH-troh KAH-rroh) - You cannot tow another car
No puede pedir ser llevado en carro aquí (NO PWEH-deh peh-DEER SEHR yeh-VAH-doh EHN KAH-rroh ah-KEE) - You cannot hitch-hike here
No puede manejar en reverso (NO PWEH-deh mah-neh-HAHR EHN reh-VEHR-soh) - You cannot drive in reverse
Lo seguí (LOH seh-GEE) - I followed you
Lo ví (LOH VEE) - I saw you
Tengo el radar (TEHN-goh EHL rah-DAHR) - I have the radar
Parking Issues
Parking violations are another issue that must be addressed.
Está estacionado en doble hilera (eh-STAH eh-stah-see-oh-NAH-doh EHN DOH-bleh ee-LEH-rah) - You are double parked
Tiene que poner más dinero en el parquímetro (tee-EH-neh KEH poh-NEHR MAHS dee-NEH-roh EHN EHL pahr-KEE-meh-troh) - You must put more money in the parking meter
La hora ya ha expirado (LAH OHR-ah YAH AH ehks-pee-RAH-doh) - Your time has expired
Este es estacionamiento para gente incapacitada (EHS-teh EHS eh-stah-see-oh-nah-mee-EHN-toh PAH-rah HEHN-teh een-kah-pah-see-TAH-dah) - This is handicapped parking
Necesita la etiqueta (neh-seh-SEE-tah LAH eh-tee-KEH-tah) - You need the sticker
Necesita el permiso (neh-seh-SEE-tah EHL pehr-MEE-soh) - You need the permit
Necesita el boleto (neh-seh-SEE-tah EHL boh-LEH-toh) - You need the ticket
No puede estacionar en la zona roja (NOH PWEH-deh eh-stah-see-oh-NAHR EHN LAH SOH-nah ROH-hah) - You cannot park in the red zone
Este es estacionamiento para emergencias (EH-steh EHS eh-stah-see-oh-nah-mee-EHN-toh PAH-rah eh-mehr-HEHN-see-ahs) - This is for emergency parking
Esta zona es para descargar (EH-stah SOH-nah EHS PAH-rah dehs-kahr-GAHR) - This zone is for unloading
Esta parte está reservada (EH-stah PAHR-teh eh-STAH reh-sehr-VAH-dah) - This section is reserved
Pedestrians
Not all violations occur in a vehicle. There are rules that pedestrians must follow as well.
Cruzó cuando la señal decía "No caminar" (kroo-SOH KWAHN-doh LAH seh-NYAHL deh-SEE-ah NOH kah-mee-NAHR) - You crossed with the sign said "Don't walk"
Cruzó cuando la luz estaba en rojo (kroo-SOH KWAHN-doh LAH LOOS eh-STAH-bah EHN ROH-hoh) - You crossed when the light was red
Caminaba en la calle (kah-mee-NAH-bah EHN LAH KAH-yeh) - You were walking in the street
No usó el cruce de peatones (NOH oo-SOH KROO-seh DEH peh-ah-TOH-nehs) - You didn't use the crosswalk
Gathering Information
Once you've made a stop and initiated a conversation, you now have to be able to obtain the necessary information.
¿Tiene identificación? (tee-EH-neh ee-dehn-tee-fee-kah-see-OHN) - Do you have identification?
¿Tiene la licencia de conducir? (tee-EH-neh LAH lee-SEHN-see-ah DEH kohn-doo-SEER) - Do you have a driver's license?
¿Es correcta esta información? (EHS koh-RREHK-tah EH-stah een-fohr-mah-see-OHN) - Is this information correct?
¿Tiene más pruebas de información? (tee-EH-neh MAHS proo-EH-bahs DEH een-fohr-mah-see-OHN) - Do you have any more identification?
¿Tiene el registro? (tee-EH-neh EHL reh-HEES-troh) - Do you have the registration?
Muéstreme su registro (MWEH-streh-meh SOO reh-HEES-troh) - Show me your registration
¿Tiene seguro? (tee-EH-neh seh-GOO-roh) - Do you have insurance?
¿Tiene la prueba de aseguramiento? (tee-EH-neh LAH proo-EH-bah DEH ah-seh-goo-rah-mee-EHN-toh) - Do you have proof of insurance?
¿Es usted el dueño? (EHS oo-STEHD EHL DWEH-nyoh) - Are you the owner?
¿Tiene prueba de propiedad? (tee-EH-neh proo-EH-bah DEH proh-pee-eh-DAHD) - Do you have proof of ownership?
¿Adónde va? (ah-DOHN-deh VAH) - Where are you going?
The Final Decision
You have informed the subject of the offense they committed. You have gathered the information you need. Now it is time to tell them what you have decided to do about it.
Voy a regresar en un minuto (VOH-ee AH reh-greh-SAHR EHN OON mee-NOO-toh) - I am going to return in a minute
Voy a verificarlo (VOH-ee AH veh-ree-fee-KAHR-loh) - I am going to verify it
Voy a darle una boleta (VOH-ee DAHR-leh OO-nah boh-LEH-tah) - I am going to give you a citation
Vaya a esta corte en esta fecha (VAH-yah AH EH-stah KOHR-teh EHN EH-stah FEH-chah) - Go to this court on this date
Voy a darle una advertencia (VOH-ee DAHR-leh OO-nah ahd-vehr-TEHN-see-ah) - I am going to give you a warning
Voy a embargarlo (VOH-ee AH ehm-bahr-GAHR-loh) - I am going to impound it
Vaya la compañia de remolque (VAH-yah LAH kohm-PAH-nyee-ah DEH reh-MOHL-keh) - Go to the towing company
Yo no hago las leyes (YOH NOH AH-goh LAHS LEH-yehs) - I don't make the laws
Puede pelearlo en la corte (PWEH-deh peh-leh-AHR-loh EHN LAH KOHR-teh) - You can fight it in court
Al firmar esta citación no se admite culpabilidad (AHL feer-MAHR EH-stah see-tah-see-OHN NOH SEH ahd-MEE-teh kool-pah-bee-lee-DAHD) - By signing this ticket you are not admitting your guilt
Firme aquí en la boleta (FEER-meh ah-KEE EHN LAH boh-LEH-tah) - Sign here on the ticket
¿Entiende todo? (ehn-tee-EHN-deh TOH-doh) - Do you understand everything?
Puede irse ahora (PWEH-deh EER-seh ah-OHR-ah) - You may go now
Que tenga un buen día (KEH TEHN-gah OON BWEHN DEE-ah) - Have a nice day
High-Risk Stop
It is very important to be able to communicate in dangerous situation. High-risk traffic stops can be a matter of life and death.
Hágase a un lado y párese (AH-gah-seh AH OON LAH-doh EE PAH-reh-seh) - Pull over and stop
Apague el motor (ah-PAH-geh EHL moh-TOHR) - Turn off the engine
Saque las llaves del encendido (SAH-keh LAHS YAH-vehs DEHL ehn-sehn-DEE-doh) - Take the keys out of the ignition
Tire las llaves fuera del carro (TEE-reh LAHS YAH-vehs FWEH-rah DEHL KAH-rroh) - Throw the keys out of the car
Salga del carro (SAHL-gah DEHL KAH-rroh) - Get out of the car
Mantenga las manos dónde las pueda ver (mahn-TEHN-gah LAHS MAH-nohs DOHN-deh LAHS PWEH-dah VEHR) - Keep your hands where I can see them
Camine hacia mí de espalda (kah-MEE-neh AH-see-ah MEE DEH eh-SPAHL-dah) - Walk backwards toward me
Acuéstese boca abajo (ah-KWEH-steh-seh BOH-kah ah-BAH-hoh) - Lie face down on the ground
Signs
Here is a list of different signs that are common to most areas. With this list you can explain which sign was disregarded.
curva (KOOR-vah) - curve
desviación (dehs-vee-ah-see-OHN) - detour
prohibido entrar (proh-hee-BEE-doh ehn-TRAHR) - do not enter
no tire basura (NOH TEE-reh bah-SOO-rah) - do not litter
prohibido pasar (proh-hee-BEE-doh pah-SAHR) - do not pass
no camine (NOH kah-MEE-neh) - do not walk
entrada (ehn-TRAH-dah) - entrance
salida (sah-LEE-dah) - exit
minusválidos (mee-noos-VAH-lee-dohs) - handicapped
camino estrecho (kah-MEE-noh eh-STREH-choh) - narrow road
no doblar a la izquierda (NOH DOH-blahr AH LAH ees-kee-EHR-dah) - no left turn
estacionamiento prohibido (eh-stah-see-oh-nah-mee-EHN-toh proh-hee-BEE-doh) - no parking
prohibida la vuelta en "U" (proh-hee-BEE-dah LAH voo-EHL-tah EHN OO) - no U-turn
dirección unica (dee-rehk-see-OHN oo-NEE-kah) - one way
cruce de ferrocarril (KROO-seh DEH feh-rroh-kah-RREEL) - railroad crossing
camino cerrado (kah-MEE-noh seh-RRAH-doh) - road closed
zona escolar (SOH-nah ehs-koh-LAHR) - school zone
despacio (deh-SPAH-see-oh) - slow
velocidad máxima (veh-loh-see-DAHD MAHK-see-mah) - speed limit
parada (pah-RAH-dah) - stop
alto (AHL-toh) - stop
camine (kah-MEE-neh) - walk
vía equivocada (VEE-ah eh-kee-voh-KAH-dah) - wrong way
ceder (seh-DEHR) - yield
