A Smithsonian Best History Book of the Year Winner of the Littleton-Griswold Prize Winner of the Ralph Waldo Emerson Award Winner of the Order of the Coif Award Winner of the Sidney M. Edelstein Prize Winner of the David J. Langum Sr. Prize in American Legal History Winner of the Berkshire Conference of Women Historians Book Prize “From traffic stops to parking tickets, Seo traces the history of cars alongside the history of crime and discovers that the two are inextricably linked.” —Smithsonian When Americans think of freedom, they often picture the open road. Yet nowhere are we more likely to encounter the long arm of the law than in our cars. Sarah Seo reveals how the rise of the automobile led us to accept—and expect—pervasive police power, a radical transformation with far-reaching consequences. Before the twentieth century, most Americans rarely came into contact with police officers. But in a society dependent on cars, everyone—law-breaking and law-abiding alike—is subject to discretionary policing. Seo challenges prevailing interpretations of the Warren Court’s due process revolution and argues that the Supreme Court’s efforts to protect Americans did more to accommodate than limit police intervention. Policing the Open Road shows how the new procedures sanctioned discrimination by officers, and ultimately undermined the nation’s commitment to equal protection before the law. “With insights ranging from the joy of the open road to the indignities—and worse—of ‘driving while black,’ Sarah Seo makes the case that the ‘law of the car’ has eroded our rights to privacy and equal justice...Absorbing and so essential.” —Paul Butler, author of Chokehold “A fascinating examination of how the automobile reconfigured American life, not just in terms of suburbanization and infrastructure but with regard to deeply ingrained notions of freedom and personal identity.” —Hua Hsu, New Yorker

A study was undertaken to review the recent Australian and international literature relating to traffic law enforcement. The specific areas examined included alcohol, speed, seat belts and signalised intersections. The review documents the types of traffic enforcement methods and the range of options available to policing authorities to increase the overall efficiency (in terms of cost and human resources) and effectiveness of enforcement operations. The review examines many of the issues related to traffic law enforcement including the deterrence mechanism, the effectiveness of legislation and the type of legal sanctions administered to traffic offenders. The need to use enforcement in conjunction with educational and environmental/engineering strategies is also stressed. The need for publicity to support enforcement operations, police training and education programs is also documented. The review concludes with a series of recommendations regarding the most promising options available to authorities to improve the effectiveness of traffic law enforcement operations.

This practical guide to road traffic law covers all the principal aspects of roads policing in England and Wales, and has been fully updated for this second edition. This new edition covers significant changes in road traffic law, such as the enforcement of the Road Safety Act 2006 and updates to the Road Traffic Act 1988. The authors discuss matters such as causing death by careless driving, causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drinking or drugs, insurance and licensing, use of mobile telephones and control of a vehicle, and updates to construction and use rules. This book also features coverage of driver identification, alcohol and drug related offences, traffic signs and fixed penalties. Each chapter is written in non-technical language and combines explanations of the law with practical illustrations, examples, and FAQs on problems commonly faced by police officers engaged in road traffic law enforcement. The book focuses on those areas that are most frequently encountered by traffic officers in their everyday working lives, and is a must for all officers engaged in front-line traffic duties. The Blackstone's Practical Policing Series covers a range of topical subjects of vital importance in today's policing arena. Each practical guide contains clear and detailed explanations of the relevant legislation, accompanied by practical scenarios, illustrative diagrams and useful checklists. Packed with a wealth of information, the Blackstone's Practical Policing Series ensures you have ready access to the tools you need to take on any policing challenge.

An accessible resource for judges, attorneys, law enforcement officers, and the public, Pulled Over: The Law of Traffic Stops and Offenses in North Carolina discusses traffic stop procedure from beginning to end, explains the law of motor vehicle checkpoints, describes North Carolina's driver's license and vehicle registration laws, and reviews the elements of many common traffic offenses. While the book's focus is North Carolina law, much of the content is pertinent in any jurisdiction. [back cover].