Traffic stops are one of the most dangerous tasks an officer may face. Many officers have made the ultimate sacrifice this year while attempting a vehicle stop. Unless a traffic stop is a felony “high-risk” stop, all other vehicle stops should be treated as “unknown-risk.” I frown on using the term “low-risk.” This sends a message to officers that there is little or no risk during a vehicle stop. If an officer conducts a vehicle stop for a traffic violation, it is usually unknown who the driver is.
Consider other unknown factors: The number of occupants, where the vehicle is coming from, where the vehicle is going, and what is inside the vehicle (like guns, explosives, drugs, etc.) The vehicle may be stolen and unreported, or a vehicle just used in a crime. The officer believes they are stopping the vehicle for a traffic violation, and the driver of the subject vehicle believes they are being stopped for other reasons unknown to the officer.
Thinking of vehicle stops as an “unknown-risk” will force the officer to use sound tactics during the stop, and avoid being complacent.