An anonymous tip that someone has drugs in their car and armed with a revolver. Officers follow suspect and hes not violating any driving laws. Is the tip alone enough just to pull him over? If this helps it is in the state of FL.
2007-03-05 15:00:42 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Before acting on an anonymous tip, police have to look at 1)the credibility of the informant. Has he provided reliable information before? Can they verify some of the info on a stakeout before they act? And 2) the sufficiency of the information. They have to have enough facts to reach a standard called "reasonable suspicion". Search and seizure law is actually pretty complicated, but there are at least some basics that each state must follow.
In the scenario you described, I'd bet the police need more information before they'd act. A cop could this still pull this person over on the limited information given, or even create a reason. But without the "reasonable suspicion" standard, any criminal evidence the cop finds will be tainted and not hold up in court.
Skylor Williams
2007-03-05 15:14:34 · answer #1 · answered by skylor_williams 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmmm, i think if the call seems ligitimate . They would i am sure, look up and see if those people have a criminal record, and any warrants, if the car is stolen etc. They would most likely try to find another reason, as it is a little sketch;y as to doing this.
But if someone is in danger there is not a problem.
Police must have probable cause or things can be thrown out. Of course there meeting that cause is very low, so it might seem they can do anything, but really they can not, a light bulb, slow, crossing a line, suspicious goings on in car, many things can raise, probable cause. But, if they can not show something, the "fruit of the tree", will be thrown out.
2007-03-05 23:31:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cops can pretty much always find probable cause to pull someone over. That's how the whole DWB thing works...
Once they got you pulled over, what they can do depends on a bunch of things. If they have no warrant, they can't toss the car UNLESS they have real probable cause that justifies it.
So they pull you over for a bent license plate, that's not enuff to start arbitrarily going through your sh!t...
Plus remember, if something is locked (ie. glove box, trunk) they need a warrant to open it.
Now... if they pull you over, smell dank in the car or see a 40 poking up from between the seats, you getting tossed.
Bottom line, you can't just run around giving "anonymous tips" about people and getting they @sses arrested. But if you the gun toting, chronic smoking fool rolling dirty, I wouldn't put too much faith in the cops not being able to come up with enough probable cause if they're in the mood to do so.....
2007-03-05 23:13:06 · answer #3 · answered by helpful_dude 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure. Police can pull you over for no reason at all. They can't DO anything though, such as search your car, without the approval of the person. If there was a gun sitting on the seat, they could then deal with that issue.
2007-03-05 23:04:11 · answer #4 · answered by powhound 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Police can pull you over for nothing really, they could day it is just a routine traffic stop of some sort.
I know they as you to report drunk drivers all the time and you can do it anonymous.
You really should report the person in your case
2007-03-05 23:10:03 · answer #5 · answered by leahhy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes the tip along is enough to pull you over, i do not know if that mean they have proper authority to search your car.
2007-03-05 23:08:30 · answer #6 · answered by I am women 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if that is enough, if you are anonymous they may not take you seriously.
2007-03-05 23:04:45 · answer #7 · answered by ACTS 4:12 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋