How does probable cause affect traffic stops?? For instance what does probable cause (or suspicion of somethin

Question

g further than a routine traffic violation) allow an officer to do when stopping a vehicle?

Answer 1

The definition of Probable Cause is that which would lead a reasonable person to believe a crime has been, is being, or is about to be committed. An officer should be versed well in traffic law. There are hundreds of infractions a motorist or vehicle can commit to give an officer justification to perform a traffic contact. Once stopped, there are a wide variety of conclusions an officer can make. Basically, probable cause allows an officer to investigate if the crime has been committed and decide on possible resolution, which can include; verbal warning, written warning, citations, and arrests.

Answer 2

Probable cause is a tool that an officer can use to stop you if they suspect you of doing something illegal, for example, if you're suspected of carrying stolen goods, the officer can ride behind you until you commit a minor infraction ex: don't use the blinker for the required 100ft. in TX.......Of course, if you are suspected of carrying stolen goods, depending on how credible a source you have, you may be stopped on that alone, and yes, most agencies don't settle for the verbal express consent, now they ask that you sign a form, and even then you can stop the search at any time......

Answer 3

To add to what has been said above, police officers need to have "a reasonable articulable suspicion" of criminal wrongdoing to expand the scope of a traffic stop. This is so that the expansion of scope will stand up to being challenged at an omnibus hearing, so the police must have a reason as stated above to go beyond a simple stop.

Answer 4

to just add one thing to mouse's excellent explanation...
A normal traffic stop doesn't give the officer the right to search your car or you. If, during the course of issuing the ticket, the officer involved sees something else which would give him probably cause to believe another infraction is occurring (alcohol on the breath, weapon in sight in the vehicle, open container of alcohol in the car, etc.) then they can detain the person stopped and search them and their vehicle...but otherwise, they can only issue the ticket for the observed infraction and nothing else.

Answer 5

Forget about probable cause. If you aren't a celebrity and /or rich and/or your case isn't gonna' be on tv, then get ready to bargain with the criminal justice system to inflict as little disruption on your life as possible. Remember, they arrest/charge/jail people for a living. This is what they do. And the system gives them authority to do it. They can seriously f*ck with your life! If you have something to lose it's just not worth it. Even if you win you still have to answer that you've been arrested for the rest of your life, and explain over and over the charge and resolution. If someone told you they were arrested but not convicted, don't you still suspect them of wrong-doing? Just a little? I hope anyone reading this never has to smell the bacon.

Answer 6

Police are trained to detect drug use, presence and efforts to hide drugs and their presence - if drug use or presence is detected, then the officer has probable cause for a search. If you refuse, the police can arrest you and then obtain a search warrant for your vehicle.

Answer 7

It would allow him to hold you for a search warrant or to hold you till they get drug dogs.

and it allows them to stop you

Answer 8

always make them get a search warrant to search your vehicle. even if you have nothing to hide make them get a warrant

Answer 9

Anything he wants. Its your word against his, and that leaves you in the doghouse.