Red line tape is extremely simple, with extremely high returns. It’s basically a roll of red tape about 1-2 inches wide and 5 feet long – used to mark a boundary on the ground or floor. There are three main uses: first, as a guide for first responders. The first responders can use the marked off area as a safe place to work, or as the scene. Second, for protection of evidence. If it’s used to mark off a crime scene (and if done correctly), the tape will preserve the area until law enforcement can get there, which could be hours or days. Finally, it can be used in training exercises.
Red line tape is relatively cheap, at $300 – $500 for 600 feet, but this can vary.
There are several ways to use red line tape, depending on the situation. One way is to place the tape in a “T” shape with one edge of the tape facing into or away from where possible evidence could be collected. This will isolate that area and prevent officers from accidentally walking on the evidence. Another way is to use it as a marker for victims. For example, if there’s a car crash and two people are ejected, you might want to mark off the car with tape so that first responders know where not to step or work. You can do this by taping “V” shapes on each end of the car. That way, when a victim is “victim-ed”, they’ll be in the center of the V’s and still surrounded by evidence. Finally, if you’re using it to mark off an area where possible victims could be located (for example, after a natural disaster), then you’d want to place tape at 25 yard or so intervals. If you can, try to mark each spot where a victim is located with another piece of tape, making “V” shapes for living victims and an “X” shape for dead ones.
If you’re using the tape as a marker in training exercises, all you need to do is place it down on the ground – similar to the “V” shape technique.
One of the benefits of using red line tape is that it’s cheap and can be easily replaced if something happens to it, i.e. an officer walks on it or you step on it accidentally while inspecting a scene or training on your own. It only takes one roll of tape to begin marking off an area, and more can be put down if needed. Also, the tape is not permanent – it won’t damage floors or carpet or grass or whatever else you might encounter at a scene. Another benefit of red line tape is that it’s reusable. If used correctly (and sometimes even if not), red line tape will preserve the evidence around it. This is because it’s on the ground, not the evidence itself. One of the drawbacks of red line tape is that it can be easily mistaken for crime scene tape, which could result in officers standing near or working in an area they shouldn’t be. Another drawback is that if you don’t put them on hard surfaces – for example, if you’re marking off a potential crime scene at the beach – then it’s possible for low tide to wash away the tape, destroying any evidence that may have been there.