191-376-5140 - Search a Vehicle for Explosive Devices or Prohibited Items at an Installation Access Control Point

   1.  Stop the vehicle by using hand-and-arm signals.

DANGER: ALWAYS POSITION
YOURSELF SO THAT YOU ARE HIGHLY VISABLE TO TRAFFIC WITH GOOD APPROACH SIGHT
DISTANCE, AND WEAR REFLECTIVE VESTS SO THAT THE VEHICLE DRIVER CAN SEE YOU
EASILY. NEVER STEP INTO THE PATH OF AN APPROACHING VEHICLE TO DIRECT
MOVEMENT OR STOP THE VEHICLE.

   2.  Direct the driver to turn the engine off and
apply the parking brake.

   3.  Interview the driver and vehicle occupants.

           a.  Identify yourself to the driver and
occupants.

           b.  Inform the driver that his vehicle must
be searched as a condition for entry onto the installation.

           c.  Identify each occupant by physically
taking possession of and looking at their military or Department of Defense
(DOD) identification (ID) card, state driver’s license, or another form of a
state or federal government-issued ID photo, and comparing the photo to the
person.

NOTE: Notify your supervisor
and the military police if you feel that the photo does not match the person
being identified or if the ID has been tampered with.

           d.  Request to see the following
documentation:

                 (1)  Vehicle registration.

                 (2)  Proof of vehicle insurance.

NOTE: Notify your supervisor
and the military police if you feel that the documentation you are being
shown is not valid.

           e.  Determine the specific reason why access
to the installation is needed by asking questions such as-

                 (1)  Where are you going?

                 (2)  Who are you going to meet?

                 (3)  Do you drive this vehicle most of
the time?

                 (4)  Would there be any contraband or
prohibited items in this vehicle?

                 (5)  Has this vehicle had any repairs
recently?  If so, what?

            f.  Maintain eye contact with the driver
throughout the interview, and report suspicious behavior to the supervisor.

           g.  Notify the supervisor and military
police if the driver appears impaired from the use of alcohol or drugs and
if any suspected prohibited items are in plain view during the interview.

   4.  Direct the occupants to exit the vehicle.

           a.  Direct the driver to open all interior
compartment doors, the hood, the trunk, and rear doors (if applicable) of
the vehicle, while maintaining constant observation.

           b.  Direct the occupants to move to a
designated safe area (about 5 meters from the vehicle and/or out of the flow
of traffic) where they can be observed.

   5.  Search the undercarriage of the vehicle.

           a.  Use a flashlight and a mirror to
carefully inspect under the vehicle.

           b.  Check for indicators such as new frame
welds; items taped or attached to the frame; an unusual looking muffler; a
fresh undercoating; and signs of recent installation of components such as a
fuel tank, muffler, or other items.

   6.  Search the exterior of the vehicle.

           a.  Check for general indicators of
explosive devices or prohibited items while searching the exterior of the
vehicle. Check for the following:

                 (1)  Anything unusual in factory-built
compartments.

                 (2)  New or shiny bolts and/or screws.

                 (3)  Unusual scratches, possibly made
by screwdrivers, wrenches, or similar tools.

                 (4)  Signs of tampering, such as
broken parts or bent sheet metal.

                 (5)  Unusually clean or dirty
components and areas.

                 (6)  Wire and tape stored in the
vehicle.

                 (7)  New or broken welds.

                 (8)  Unusual fingerprints of grease
and/or oil in otherwise clean areas.

                 (9)  Fresh bodywork (fresh fiber
glassing, fresh paint, and so forth).

                (10)  Fresh wiring and electrical tape.

                (11)  New caulking.

                (12)  Missing or altered vehicle
identification number.

                (13)  False compartments that are not
part of vehicle design.

WARNING: DO NOT WEAR JEWELRY OR
OTHER DANGLING ITEM THAT CAN BECOME SNAGGED ON A VEHICLE. ALWAYS ENSURE THAT
THE ENGINE IS OFF AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS SET BEFORE BEGINNING THE
INSPECTION.

           b.  Check the exterior front, including-

                 (1)  Headlights that are not working.

                 (2)  A modified front grill or false
compartment.

                 (3)  No access to the front bumper
cavity.

           c.  Check the exterior sides, including-

                 (1)  Compartments, new welds, taped
items, or fresh paint in the front fender wells.

                 (2)  Doors that feel heavy when swung.

                 (3)  Foreign items in the gas tank
tube (driver opens the gas tank for inspection).

DANGER: DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY
MAY RESULT IF YOU BREATHE TOXIC AGENTS WHILE SEARCHING THE GAS TANK TUBE OF
VEHICLES.

           d.  Check the tires, including-

                 (1)  New tires.

                 (2)  Tires with a solid sound.

                 (3)  Strange odor from an air valve.

                 (4)  Unusually clean or dirty lug nuts
or hubcaps compared to other wheels.

           e.  Check the exterior rear, including-

                 (1)  Taillights that are not working.

                 (2)  No access to the rear bumper
cavity.

            f.  Check the tailgate (if applicable),
including-

                 (1)  An unusually heavy tailgate.

                 (2)  Fresh paint or body filler.

                 (3)  Inconsistent or nonhollow sounds
when tapped.

           g.  Check the pickup bed (if applicable),
including-

                 (1)  Inconsistent or nonhollow sounds
when tapped.

                 (2)  Fresh paint or body filler.

                 (3)  An unusually thick floor.

                 (4)  Unusual welds and/or seams.

                 (5)  Any caulking.

           h.  Check the cargo area (if applicable),
including-

                 (1)  Fresh paint or body filler.

                 (2)  Inconsistent or nonhollow sounds
when tapped.

                 (3)  An unusually thick floor.

                 (4)  A false ceiling.

                 (5)  Any caulk and/or glue.

                 (6)  Any strange smell.

   7.  Search the engine compartment.

           a.  Look for a large battery box or extra
battery.

           b.  Look for odd and/or clean wires.

           c.  Look for larger components (air cleaner
and fan blade shrouds).

WARNING: NEVER PLACE YOUR HANDS
IN THE VICINITY OF THE FAN BLADES WHILE CONDUCTING THE SEARCH. SOME VEHICLES
ARE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC COOLING SYSTEM THAT MAY CAUSE THE FAN BLADES
TO START OPERATING AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION.

           d.  Identify any unusual odor indicating
that containers that may contain fuel.

           e.  Look for foreign objects in the air
filter cavity.

            f.  Look for the cold air filter.

           g.  Look for freshly painted areas, new
welds, shiny bolts, or sheet metal work on firewalls.

           h.  Check for a clean engine in a dirty car.

            i.  Check the hood to see if it feels heavy
when opened and closed. Have the driver open the hood, but move the hood up
and down yourself.

            j.  Look for a false wall or modified
fender compartment.

           k.  Identify any clean or wiped areas.

   8.  Search the trunk compartment, if applicable.

           a.  Check for a new trunk mat and/or carpet.

           b.  Check for caulk, glue, or any other
strange smells.

           c.  Check the trunk lid to see if it feels
heavy when opened and closed.

           d.  Look for a raised floor.

           e.  Identify any strange odors from the
spare tire.

            f.  Listen for nonhollow or inconsistent
sounds in the walls.

           g.  Look for an unusual space between the
back seat and trunk wall.

           h.  Look to see if the spare tire is not
flush with the floor.

   9.  Search the interior of the vehicle.

           a.  Search the dash, including-

                 (1)  Electrical components. See if the
components function or if the light emitting diode (LED) is on when the
vehicle power is off.

                 (2)  New, damaged, or scratched
screws.

                 (3)  Plugged air vents.

                 (4)  Broken or missing blowers.

           b.  Look for a false compartment in the
glove box.

           c.  Look for unusual lumps or bulges in the
front and/or rear seats.

           d.  Feel for rigid front and/or rear seats.

           e.  Look for a false or modified ceiling.

            f.  Look for an unusually thick floor.

           g.  Look for stress cracks in the windshield
(no stone impact mark).

  10.  Take action when the search reveals suspected
explosive devices or prohibited items in the vehicle.

           a.  Explosive devices.

                 (1)  Never attempt to handle or disarm
suspected explosive devices.

                 (2)  Suspend all radio and cellular
phone traffic, 100 meters around the vehicle.

                 (3)  Secure the driver and all
occupants of the vehicle, and notify the supervisor and military police.

                 (4)  Immediately evacuate the
surrounding area.

                 (5)  Secure the scene until it is
cleared by explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) personnel or until properly
relieved.

                 (6)  Release the driver and occupants
to the supervisor or military police along with any documentation and
identification collected.

           b.  Prohibited items.

                 (1)  Never handle the prohibited items
unless ordered by the supervisor or military police.

                 (2)  Notify the supervisor and
military police.

                 (3)  Secure the driver and all
occupants of the vehicle.

                 (4)  Secure the scene until it is
cleared by the supervisor or until properly relieved.

                 (5)  Release the driver and occupants
to the supervisor or military police along with any documentation and
identification collected.

  11.  Release the driver and occupants if no explosive
devices or prohibited items are found or if suspected items are cleared by
the military police or EOD personnel.

           a.  Give ID cards and all gathered
documentation back to the driver.

           b.  Help the driver safely enter the flow of
traffic (if applicable).

   1.  Stopped the vehicle by using hand-and-arm
signals.

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   2.  Directed the driver to turn the engine off and
apply the parking brake.

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   3.  Interviewed the driver and vehicle occupants.

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   4.  Directed the occupants to exit the vehicle.

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   5.  Searched the undercarriage of the vehicle.

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   6.  Searched the exterior of the vehicle.

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   7.  Searched the engine compartment.

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   8.  Searched the trunk compartment, if applicable.

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   9.  Searched the interior of the vehicle.

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  10.  Took action when the search revealed suspected
explosive devices or prohibited items in the vehicle.

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  11.  Released the driver and occupants if no
explosive devices or prohibited items were found or if suspected items were
cleared by the military police or EOD personnel.

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AR 190-13

AR 525-13