Drive off prevention device

Abstract

A device for preventing a drive off during a traffic stop that can be easily deployed by a police office to puncture the tire of the vehicle if it is driven off during the traffic stop. The device has a base support a plurality of spikes and a handle pivotally coupled to an end of the base and movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The handle is telescopic so that is can be extended for easy deployment of the device by the officer. The handle may include a visual indicator and can be magnetic to attach to the side of the vehicle. The base may include a flexible cover positioned over the plurality of spikes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for preventing a drive off during a traffic stop, comprising:
 a base supporting a plurality of spikes; and   a handle pivotally coupled to an end of the base and movable between a stowed position and a deployed position.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is telescopic. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the handle includes a visual indicator. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein a portion of the handle is magnetic. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the base includes a flexible cover positioned over the plurality of spikes. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the handle is recessed in the stowed position. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  further comprises an electronic circuit configured to detect a deployment event and to illuminate a visual indicator in response to detection of the deployment event. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic circuit is configured to detect a puncture event. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic circuit includes a communication link configured to report an occurrence of either or both of the deployment event and the puncture event to a remote host. 
     
     
         10 . A method of preventing a drive off during a traffic stop, comprising the steps of:
 providing a device having a base supporting a plurality of spikes and a handle pivotally coupled to the base and movable between a stowed position and a deployed position;   pivoting the handle into the deployed position; and   positioning the device proximately to a tire of a vehicle involved in the traffic stop so that the base extends in front of the tire.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of telescoping the handle so that it increases in length prior to positioning the device proximately to the tire of the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of attaching the handle to a side of the vehicle by engaging a magnetic portion of the handle with the side of the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of illuminating a visual indicator associated with the handle when the handle is moved into the deployed position. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of disconnected the handle from the side of the vehicle after the traffic stop has completed. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of collapsing the handle after the traffic stop has completed. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of pivoting the handle into the stowed position after the traffic stop has completed. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of detecting deployment of the handle into the deployed position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of providing a visual indication of detected deployment. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of detecting any of the plurality of spikes puncturing the tire. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of communicating any detected deployment of the handle or puncturing of the tire to a remote host.