CLEARING THE VEHICLE

Once all visible suspects are removed from the vehicle, the task of clearing the vehicle for any possible remaining individuals is the next step and probably the most dangerous.

After the visible suspects have been secured, the two primary MA's will resume their position back in their vehicles. The forward observer will then exit his vehicle, keeping his weapon trained on the suspect vehicle. He should move far enough to the right of the suspect vehicle to seek cover if a third individual becomes visible and to stay out of the direct line of fire from the two rear patrol units. Crouching down to present the smallest target, the forward observer will move towards the front of the suspect vehicle and stop at the right front bumper. He will kneel down and place his free hand on the bumper of the vehicle. He is checking for movement in the vehicle and should remain in this position until he is confident that there appears to be no one else hiding in the vehicle.

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He will then move from the bumper to the right side of the vehicle and slowly stand up training his weapon into the interior of the vehicle. If he observes someone in the vehicle he should immediately drop to the ground and move to the front of the suspect vehicle, using the vehicle for cover. The sequence of events will have to be repeated to remove the other individual from the vehicle. If the vehicle is empty, the forward observer will signal the other MAs with a thumbs up signal.

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Once the interior is clear, there still remains one area that also has to be cleared-the trunk. To clear the trunk, the forward observer will move towards the right front of the suspect vehicle and the MA in the vehicle directly behind the suspect vehicle, will exit his vehicle and move to the rear of his patrol vehicle.

The forward observer will move to the left front of the suspect vehicle and the other MA will move to the right rear of his patrol vehicle and move out and away

from the vehicle to make his approach to the suspect vehicle. This move must be cautious and careful since now both MAs are in each other field of fire. The MA approaching from the rear has the opportunity to drop and roll if anything should happen and the forward observer has the suspect vehicle to use for cover since any attack would have to come from the trunk.

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The forward observer will move to a position midway of the suspect vehicle keeping his sight and his weapon trained on the trunk. The other MA now approaches the suspect vehicle from the far right rear. Both MAs position themselves forward of the trunk and to each side with attention directed towards the trunk. Keeping his sight and weapon trained, the forward observer will bend down and retrieve the vehicle keys; the other MA will concentrate on the trunk. The remaining MA will be guarding and watching the suspects secured in the patrol vehicles.

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Holstering his weapon, the forward observer should drop to the roadway and position himself at the rear of the suspect vehicle, and use the vehicle bumper as cover. The forward observer then inserts the key into the trunk.

Using hand signals, the forward observer will signal the other MA he is about to open the trunk, he will then open the trunk. If the trunk lid does not open by itself, he will have to give it a push. Then, protecting himself using the rear bumper. the covering MA will have the vehicle trunk covered in the event someone is in it and clear the trunk. He will then signal the MA at the patrol vehicles with a thumbs up signal if the trunk is clear and shout "CLEAR" for the MA on the roadway.

On newer vehicles the trunk may also be opened from the glovebox. Usually a red color button located inside the glovebox on the left side.

High risk traffic stops are extremely dangerous. Don't take any chances. The technique is time consuming, and traffic will be delayed until the evolution is complete, but it is not worth your life or the lives of your shipmates by hurrying, or by assuming that there is little danger because the stop is made on a military installation.