How many of you guys/gals out there use it?

I've been using it more recently for stops involving more then one person in the vehicle, but I will do them for every stop at night from now on.  I had a good stop last week that turned into a very good pinch on a lot of crack.  I did a passenger side approach and watched the passenger shove a large baggy up his coat sleeve.  Played it cool, and got a consent search.  Pinched him for quite a bit of crack, and the driver turned out to be DUS as well.  So anyways, I know many of you use it out there, and I was just wondering what kind of results all of you have had.  I know that I'm convinced for safety purposes alone, that I will be doing them for now on.

can you explain to me (non-leo) the advantage of passenger side approaches?  Obviously it gets you out of the roadway, but what else?  element of supprise since they're expecting you at the drivers side?

I've been trained to do them every time possible. I can see some huge advantages to it, especially from an officer safety standpoint. I'd say it is absolutely better if you are on your own in the car.

Quoted: can you explain to me (non-leo) the advantage of passenger side approaches?  Obviously it gets you out of the roadway, but what else?  element of supprise since they're expecting you at the drivers side?

cause it is fun to stand there for a few seconds watching everyone in the car looking over their left shoulder before you tap on the window.

i only do pass. approach unless obstacles prevent me. your searches go a lot faster when you watch where they put the dope!

I do the passenger side approach if the passengers look like dirtbags.  I also like to stand and watch them for a minute or two to see what they are up to.  I exit my vehicle and walk all the way around the rear trunk of my car so I never cross in front of my takedown or spotlights.  

So, +1 from Washington state

I'm not in the field (I'm corrections) but I do a lot of rides.

its fun to do the pass side when the dep is going driver.

When they reach for the box to get their info and i flip my light on the box its kinda fun to see the passengers head snap to the side...I had one guy almost shit it scared him so much!

Another thing that works if your alone and you get the bad feeling reach over and pop the pass door of your car wait a few then close it. Then get out of the driverside and it gives them time to see the reflection of the side door and NOT being able to see anyone! They alwayse ask "where is you other guy???

Some HP do it since they are alone all the time (make sure you do it at night... dont make your self look like a idiot)

sometimes BARK LIKE A DOG while your in your car! LOL Thats alwayse fun to listen to in court on tape!

I like them and try to use them as often as possible.  You can see in the car a lot better. And as long as you don't walk between your car and their's (which you shouldnt be doing anyways) they can't seeyou coming if you use your white lights (spotlight/takedowns) correctly.

I generally do driver's side approaches during the day and passenger's side approaches at night.  During the day, most people see you move to the passenger's side so not much surprise - at night, it works great.

On a passenger's side approach, you tend to see more of the contents of the car.  I once snaggeed a guy with dope because he had stuck it under his right leg, expecting me to do a driver's side approach.  The down side is a general inability to smell alcoholic beverages on the driver.  Sometimes, I'll approach on the passenger's side and then recontact on the driver's side - it confuses the stopee and lets me see the vehicle and "smell" the driver.

Quoted: I do the passenger side approach if the passengers look like dirtbags.  I also like to stand and watch them for a minute or two to see what they are up to.  I exit my vehicle and walk all the way around the rear trunk of my car so I never cross in front of my takedown or spotlights.   So, +1 from Washington state

Another +1 from Washington - at night anyhow.

Quoted: Quoted: can you explain to me (non-leo) the advantage of passenger side approaches?  Obviously it gets you out of the roadway, but what else?  element of supprise since they're expecting you at the drivers side? cause it is fun to stand there for a few seconds watching everyone in the car looking over their left shoulder before you tap on the window.

That's what i figured.  You're coming around the passenger side watching some dirtbag looking over his left shoulder holding a pistol low on the door panel.  Definately see the advantage.

Passenger side approaches at night occassionaly. Always when on the highway. ND has a law that requires people to switch lanes but we all know how well THAT works.

Pass sd approaches are definitely fun.

As  a motor officer, I do all my highway stops from the passenger side unless of course they pull to the median shoulder.  However most stops done off the highway I aproach on the drivers side unless they are in the lane of traffic.

Quoted: Quoted: I do the passenger side approach if the passengers look like dirtbags.  I also like to stand and watch them for a minute or two to see what they are up to.  I exit my vehicle and walk all the way around the rear trunk of my car so I never cross in front of my takedown or spotlights.   So, +1 from Washington state Another +1 from Washington - at night anyhow.

+3