By Suzie Ziegler
FAIRFAX, Va. — Instead of reaching over into your glovebox, one police department is asking drivers to keep their license and registration in a highly visible pouch on the driver’s side. It’s one way to help prevent traffic stops from escalating.
According to WUSA 9, the Fairfax Police Department has been handing out hundreds of vehicle identification pouches to drivers as a proactive approach to help stops go as smoothly as possible. The pouch is described as a small folder that clips onto the driver’s side air vent, and is meant to hold a driver’s license, registration and insurance.
“The reaching and us not knowing where your hands are and if you have to reach for something – having this pouch on the left side, it actually helps us,” Capt. Ronnie Lewis told WUSA 9.
The pouch is made by the Alliance for Safe Traffic Stops and Fairfax Police began partnering with the alliance in 2020.
“It doesn’t have to be the solution to the problem. But I think if we get enough of a solution to the problem, then we’re going to be a lot better off than where we are now,” Lewis said.