can a cop randomly run your liscense plates?

Question

without cause, can a police officer run the tags on your car at anytime?

Answer 1

Yes they can and I do all the time, I have a stolen car sheet in my car at all times and if a car matches one that is on my sheet, I run the plate. I also run several plates late at night or early mornings to see If I can catch stolen vehicles. I have caught dozens that way and will continue to do so, if you have nothing to worry about, I won't pull you over.

Answer 2

Just to add to what the law enforcement officers have said, there is a new computer system that is being tested in Canada that has a camera hooked on the pushbar on the front of the police car. The camera sends all the plates it sees to the computer that automatically runs the plates without input from the police officer. When a plate comes back with negative information (warrant stolen car etc...) an attention tone goes off in the police car, and a photo of the car, the plate, and why it is wanted then pops up on the MDT in the police car.

Answer 3

I guess after reading some of the answers from the cops, I guess THEY CAN randomly run your license plate! I thought the answer was NO way! I can understand if Police Officers have a list of stolen car sheet and they are trying to catch a Thief! That cool but I'm wondering about all those people who are driving around with a suspended license.
Are cops allowed to run random plates for drivers with suspended licenses? That is the Question.
Hey, I'm all for trying to catch a Thief for stealing cars! Keep doing your THING Peace OFFICERS.

Answer 4

Absolutely, he has neither detained you, searched your person or vehicle, or arrested you. Either your car fits a description of one on the hot list or you don't look appropriate for the vehicle you're driving, so he runs the plates to see if the vehicle or plate has been reported as stolen. No its not profiling, he's just using the laws of averages. Generally you don't see a young driver in a poor neighborhood driving a 2007 BMW, so that would be prudent for the officer to check. All comes back clean, you both go on your merry way and you wouldn't even know he ran the plate (Unless he's using an analog radio and you have a scanner).

Answer 5

Legally, no. There must be cause for an officer to make an inquiry of any sort into anything(license plates, person, etc). However, it's not hard to come up with the necessary cause to justify an inquiry. I didn't read all of the above answers, but most of them were good examples of how little cause is required. Every time an officer observes a traffic violation, makes a traffic stop, helps a stranded motorist or witnesses any type of suspicious behavior he or she can run your license plates.

Answer 6

I run about 100-150 plates during my shift randomly. I always run plates when I pull someone over. running plates is legal. You as a citizen can go to the registry and pay small fee and get the same info about someone based off there plate number. Freedom of Information Act.

Answer 7

they can run your tags 24 hours a day and seven days a week and also 365 days a years.there are no laws that prohibit this.for the guy who says he runs 100-150 plates a shift that is a outright lie. you can not run that many as it would cause you to not do your job. there is no reason to exaggerate to trying to impress anyone.when i had time i would run some.you may have time for about 20 and that is stretching it.retired deputy sheriff of 25 years

Answer 8

Of course... that is 'their' plate... not yours.
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Anytime you see a cop around you in traffic or at a light... chances are your being ran thru the system...
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Like the laws of averages, your plate is like a lottery scratcher...
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Ya win some, ya lose some... but if they were not donig this, there could easily be another 500,000+ convicts loose who were caught by an officer actually working while he is waiting at that light...
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sure you can tap your fingers and zone out waiting for the light to change, but I'm sure there are plenty of cops who actually meant it when they signed up 'to protect and serve'.

Answer 9

Yes, certainly. Especially if say a red prius was stolen, and you have one, the officers will be on the lookout for red prius' and run the plates of any they see trying to find the stolen one.

I don't know if you are, but don't live in paranoia of such a minor thing.

Answer 10

sure they can. they drive behind cars all the time and run checks without you even knowing. I am sure they have their own cause for doing this. I don't think they just do it for sh _ ts and giggles.