The Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) & Traffic Crash Investigation Unit (TCI) consists of officers who have received additional training in radar speed enforcement, laser speed enforcement, commercial motor vehicle enforcement, vehicle equipment enforcement, basic crash investigation, technical crash investigation, and vehicle dynamics. Traffic officers are assigned to these details on a part-time basis based upon the need for traffic enforcement as well as crash investigation, and the shift’s activity or volume of calls for service.
The TEU addresses traffic problems through Traffic Enforcement Details (TED). TEDs involve intensive traffic enforcement conducted in specific geographic locations at a pre-determined time. TEDs are generated in response to requests from Franklin citizens, business owners, elected officials, police officers, and Engineering Department employees.
When a traffic complaint that generates a TED is speed related, one of the department's Vehicle Speed Display Signs may be deployed in the area. The Vehicle Display Sign utilizes radar to capture and record the speed of all vehicles passing the sign in either direction. The speed data collected establishes the time of day and day of the week when the most violations occur. A TED is then conducted during the time when the most violations occur, making the most effective use of the TEU's time.
Most of the officers assigned to the TEU are also trained as Traffic Crash Investigators (TCI). In addition to traffic enforcement, officers assigned to the TCI respond as needed to assist other officers in investigating serious property damage or personal injury motor vehicle crashes, utilizing their specialized training.