Fort Worth students to learn how to interact with police during traffic stops

Question: Why should you place your hands on the steering wheel while an officer is approaching?

The answer? “For the officer’s safety; it signals to officer that you are not armed.”

This is just one of the lessons Texas high schools students will learn as part of the Community Safety Education Act, or Senate Bill 30, which was passed by the 85th Texas Legislature.

Starting with this year’s freshmen, Texas public schools must teach high school students how to interact with peace officers during traffic stops and other in-person encounters.

The Texas Education Agency provided school districts instruction materials that can be used, including a 16-minute video and an instructor’s guide that includes a quiz.

“The goal of the act was to define the behavior and expectations of citizens and law enforcement during traffic interactions,” explained Texas State Senator Royce West, D-Dallas, during the video’s opening section. “We know that in some communities there is an issue concerning trust between law enforcement and the community.”

The aim of the law is to build more trust through training at police academies, driver’s education programs and high schools, West said in the video.

North Texas school districts have received the materials and are planning how to introduce the course to their schools. In Fort Worth, students will begin participating in the lessons during the second semester, which begins after Winter Break.

Clint Bond, spokesman for Fort Worth schools, said the Social Studies Department is working to weave the lessons in the district’s academics.

The Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district also has plans to add it during the spring semester.

At Arlington schools, the program will be embedded a government course the current freshmen take as seniors. In Birdville, schools the lessons are also part of the government curriculum.

The lessons also include discussions on the role of law enforcement officers, what to expect during a traffic stop, the rights of citizens during traffic stops and the proper behavior for civilians and peace officers during interactions.

This story was originally published October 5, 2018 at 4:21 PM.