When traffic police pull a driver over, that driver may notice a K9 unit accompanying the officers. While this might seem unusual at first, there’s a valid reason why law enforcement utilizes these highly trained dogs during traffic stops. K9 units serve as an essential tool in police work, helping officers to detect drugs and explosives and even assist in apprehending suspects.
What exactly happens when a K9 is called in during a routine traffic stop?
Drug detection
Many police dogs are specially trained to sniff out narcotics like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines and ecstasy. Dogs have an incredible sense of smell, making them highly effective in detecting drugs that may be hidden in a vehicle. When a police officer pulls someone over and suspects that drugs might be involved, a K9 unit may be called in to search the vehicle.
In many cases, a dog will alert to the presence of drugs by sitting, lying down or scratching at a particular area of the vehicle. This behavior can provide the officers with reasonable suspicion to conduct a more thorough search.
Explosive detection
Just like they’re trained to detect drugs, some police dogs are trained to sniff out chemicals commonly found in explosives. This becomes particularly relevant in high-risk situations, such as when officers suspect a vehicle could be carrying dangerous materials.
Explosive detection dogs are used in a variety of law enforcement scenarios, not just traffic stops. Their presence during a routine traffic stop could be a precautionary measure if the officers have any reason to believe that explosives might be involved.
Searching for evidence or contraband
Suppose officers have reason to believe that a suspect may be carrying illegal items, such as firearms or counterfeit currency; a K9 can be deployed to help locate these items. The dog’s keen sense of smell can be utilized to search the interior of the car, compartments and even the vehicle’s trunk.
The use of K9 units during traffic stops is not a routine event, but when it happens, it serves an important role in assisting law enforcement. With that said, drivers who have suspicious encounters with police dogs – not all use of K9 units is lawful – should consider enlisting legal guidance to better understand their rights and options.