What should an officer do when encountering a suspicious vehicle?

When encountering a suspicious vehicle, conducting a thorough check of the vehicle's license plate and registration is a crucial first step. This action allows officers to gather important information about the vehicle, including its ownership and whether it has been reported stolen or linked to any criminal activity.

This method is a systematic approach ensuring the officer's safety while also enabling them to assess whether further action is needed based on the findings from the database checks. By obtaining and analyzing this information, an officer can make informed decisions regarding how to proceed, whether that entails approaching the vehicle, waiting for backup, or investigating further.

In contrast, simply ignoring the vehicle overlooks potential threats or criminal activity that could affect public safety. An aggressive approach to the vehicle could escalate a situation and increase danger for both the officer and any individuals involved, while taking a photograph, while sometimes useful, does not provide the immediate and actionable information that a license plate and registration check yields.