I, too, have taught trainees to write a citation from the trunk(right side), however, one slow learner left the ambers on, and was blinded by the flashing light. I had spoken with the driver and felt it was safe to use him in a learning scenerio.
I knew the address on his license wasn’t valid, but the trainee was writing it on the license anyway. When I asked the driver what his new address was, I also asked him to wait a few seconds, and then walk back and stand at the open passenger door of the patrol car. When he was in place, I asked the trainee where the driver was? He looked at me like I was crazy, and then saw that the driver was standing only a few feet away, in the dark, while the trainee was fully illuminated by the flashing ambers. He went white as a ghost when he realized the driver could have done a number of things to him without warning.
The moral of this story? Turn off overheads when safe to do so. It only takes one drunk to think he’s driving “under the flashing yellow”, and rearends your squad for you to fully understand what I mean. Thanks for letting me ramble.