8 Kinds of Illegal Police Stops

1. No Reasonable Cause

The police can only stop you when they have a reasonable suspicion that a crime has been, or is being committed, by you. Law enforcement can’t stop you unless they can articulate why they believe you are doing something against the law.

It’s not enough for the police to make up a reason, either. Instead, their motive for stopping you must be reasonable under the circumstances when looking at it objectively. Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968) is the U.S. Supreme Court case that establishes the individual right to be free from police stops without suspicion of a crime.

2. Changed Purpose/Fishing Expedition

When the police stop you, they can only keep you for the time needed to handle the reason they stopped you in the first place. The police can only change topics or hold you to investigate new questions in limited circumstances.

For example, if they stop you for a routine traffic matter, and then see drugs on the floor of your vehicle, they can investigate. However, they can’t keep you until a drug-sniffing dog arrives if they have no suspicion whatsoever. It’s illegal to go on a fishing expedition during a police stop.

3. Race or Gender

The police can’t stop you because of your race, gender, how you’re dressed or the fact that you’re in a high crime area.

The police can’t conduct stops based on how people look or other kinds of prejudice. If they suspect you of a crime, they can stop you. However, if they stop you because of race and other biases, it is an illegal police stop.

4. Hunches

At times, some police might be convinced that something is true and want to investigate it further.

However, it’s illegal for the police to stop people based on a hunch. They have to be able to explain a valid reason for the stop. Explanations like “I just knew,” or “based on my years of experience…” are insufficient. A simple hunch is an impermissible reason for a police stop.

5. Criminal History

People who are known to law enforcement may make unfair targets for police.

The police may want to stop and harass a person just because they’re recognizable to law enforcement. While the police can run your license plate while driving, they can’t stop you just because you have a criminal history. Of course, this is different when you’re on probation or parole. However, once you’ve served your sentence, it’s a fresh slate.

6. To Give You a Type of Present

Turn on your local news during the holiday, and you might find a feel-good story about the police. For example, they may stop motorists to give them a turkey or a Christmas gift. Even though it might seem like a nice gesture, the truth is that the police cannot stop a motorist without a reason related to law enforcement.

If they have a reason to believe that you committed a traffic offense, they can surprise you with a turkey instead of a ticket. However, they cannot stop a law-abiding motorist without suspicion of a traffic violation.

7. Anonymous Tips

Anonymous tips generally cannot be the basis for a police stop.

That’s because the police may not have the specifics that they need to evaluate the information. Also, they don’t have a way to assess the credibility of the tipster. Sometimes, an anonymous tip can be enough, but it has to be more information than just identifying the person. An anonymous tip must be reliable, and it must be more than an accusation.

In Florida v. J.L. (2000), the police received an anonymous tip that a man at a bus stop had a gun. They didn’t have any independent suspicion that the man was committing a crime, but they frisked the man anyway and found the unlicensed weapon. However, the courts concluded that an anonymous tip of that nature was insufficient to sustain a criminal charge.

8. To Satisfy Incentives

It might seem unbelievable that the police would stop vehicles just to get an extra day of vacation, but it’s been done.

It’s illegal for the police to get incentives, like a day off work or a gift card, for the number of tickets or stops they make. That kind of incentive program gives the police a strong bias and inappropriate motivation to do their work. If the police stop you because they’ve been promised something for doing it, it’s an impermissible police stop.

Are You Allowed to Walk Away From a Police Officer?

Yes, you are allowed to walk away from a police officer if you are not detained under reasonable suspicion of committing an offense and if the police don’t have a warrant for your arrest. You don’t have to stay and answer questions if you’re a witness or if the police just want to make small talk.

Some states have stop and identify laws, so you may have to give your name to the police if they suspect you of committing a crime. In general, if you are under no suspicion, you are allowed to walk away from a police officer.

What to Do if You’re the Victim of an Impermissible Police Stop

If you’re the victim of an impermissible police stop, you can take action. You may be able to suppress the evidence gathered against you if you receive a traffic ticket or a criminal charge. That may result in dismissal of the case. Also, you may be able to file a legal claim in order to hold law enforcement accountable for their actions.

If you believe that you were the victim of an impermissible police stop, contact our team of personal injury lawyers today for your free consultation.

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