Gameplay
Issuing Citations
Issue fines for eligible offences and decide when a citation is appropriate instead of an arrest.
A citation lets you deal with a fine-eligible offence without taking the civilian into custody. Before choosing an outcome, complete the stop or investigation, confirm the relevant facts, and decide whether a warning, citation, further detention, or an arrest best fits the situation.
Choosing the Right Outcome
Enforcement is not one-size-fits-all. Use the information available to you and keep these outcomes distinct:
| Outcome | When It Fits |
|---|---|
| Warning or release | No further enforcement is necessary, or your investigation clears the person and they are free to leave. |
| Citation | The citation menu lists the offence as fine-eligible and there is no reason the person must be taken into custody. |
| Detention | You still need to confirm identity, investigate intoxication or carried items, resolve database information, or safely control the scene. |
| Arrest | The confirmed circumstances call for a custodial response and station processing rather than a fine and release. |
Gather the Facts First
Do not decide between a citation and arrest from one detail alone. Build a complete picture before acting:
- Identify the person. Obtain their identity and confirm who you are dealing with.
- Run the person. Check their driver's and firearm licences, outstanding warrants, and other alerts in the law enforcement database.
- Check the vehicle. Run the registration and review its registered owner and stolen status during a traffic stop.
- Investigate where needed. Use the available breathalyser, drug test, and search options described in Investigating Suspects.
- Reassess the outcome. Consider all confirmed offences and flags together before warning, citing, releasing, or arresting the person.
Issuing a Citation
When a citation is appropriate, interact with the civilian and open the citation action from the interaction menu. The form records the civilian, officer, date, department, and location for the incident.
- Search or browse the offence list in the citation form.
- Select every fine-eligible offence that applies to the incident.
- Review the selected offence count and calculated total before continuing.
- Select Issue Citation to complete the citation.
Citation or Arrest?
A citation generally fits a confirmed, fine-eligible offence when the person can safely be released afterward. A clean record, valid information, cooperation, and a minor incident may support that lower-level outcome.
An arrest is the better response when the confirmed circumstances require custody rather than a fine and release. An active warrant, a confirmed stolen vehicle, or other serious circumstances may support taking the person to an arrest-processing point, but no single database detail should replace your assessment of the complete situation.
- Verify flags: Confirm what the database actually reports before acting on it.
- Separate owner and driver: A driver who is not the registered owner has not automatically stolen the vehicle.
- Interpret search results: Finding an item does not make every item contraband; act on what the investigation establishes.
- Handle intoxication carefully: A BAC of 0.08% or higher and any positive drug-test result are documented offences, but the circumstances still determine the appropriate outcome.
- Do not reward or punish behavior: Cooperation can make the scene safer, but it does not erase a confirmed offence. Equally, an uncooperative attitude alone does not justify inventing a more serious charge.