1. Focusing on violations and not indicators - unsuccessful highway drug interdiction officers habitually focus on violations instead of indicators. I've personally seen these officers stare at their radar while indicator after indicator passes them by on the highway. Stop obsessing over violations and educate yourself on indicators and you will greatly increase your chances of finding the mother load.

2. Waste valuable time arresting a suspects for minor violations - another common habit that I've noticed among unsuccessful interdiction officers is booking suspects for small amounts dope. Just remember when you are booking a suspect for an ounce of marijuana, hundreds of pounds of dope are passing through your jurisdiction. If you can't let a suspect go for a misdemeanor drug offense then highway drug interdiction is not for you.

3. Unable to establish a rapport with the suspect - a common habit among unsuccessful interdiction officers is the inability to start "small talk." These officers rush right into the interview which can make the suspect put up his guard. Instantly putting the suspect on guard can lead to consent refusals and can cause you to misread body language. Be courteous, respectful and establish rapport with every suspect you come in contact with and you will greatly increase your success rate in highway drug interdiction.

4. Fail to establish proper vehicle search patterns - another common habit among highway drug interdiction officers is erratic vehicle search patterns. By not having a consistent search pattern, these officers waste a lot of time looking for dope and will even overlook compartments where dope is commonly hidden.

5. Easily Discouraged - another habit that is very common among interdiction officers is being easily discouraged after searching a vehicle and not finding any dope. When this happens the unsuccessful officer will go get something to eat or just stop looking for indicators all together. Remember, you must be relentless in yourpursuit. If you don't find any dope, don't get discouraged. Immediately get back to your spot and continue looking for indicators.

6. Fail to notice an "Attitude" refusal - a common habit among unsuccessful officers is the inability to recognize an "attitude" refusal. Theses officers habitually mistake "attitude" refusals for "dope" refusals and end up wasting a lot of time searching for dope that just isn't there.

7. Too relaxed in officer safety - as we all know, officer safety is paramount when you are on the highway searching for narcotics. A deadly habit that I've observed among many officers is becoming too lax or relaxed when it comes to officer safety. We've all let our guard down at one point or another. Remember, be vigilant and always protect yourself.

About the Author

Andrew Hawkes helps law enforcement officers sharpen their skills on highway drug interdiction with his "Secrets of Successful Highway Drug Interdiction" program. Read about highway drug interdiction success stories at his website http://www.highwaydruginterdiction.com