Officers may make stops for suspected violations of even minor illegal acts including ordinances if they have

Officers may make stops for suspected violations of even minor illegal acts including ordinances if they have

• A. Probable cause
• B. Reasonable suspicion
• C. A warrant
• D. The officer's personal belief

Answer: (B)

Reasonable suspicion is the standard that justifies a brief investigative stop. It means the officer has specific, articulable facts that would lead a reasonable person to believe a crime is afoot or about to be committed, even if the offense is minor or a municipal ordinance. That lower threshold allows an officer to detain briefly and ask questions to confirm or dispel suspicion without needing a warrant. A warrant is not required for such a stop, though probable cause is needed for an arrest or for most searches. Personal belief or hunch isn’t enough—the stop must be grounded in observable facts, not subjective guesswork. For example, repeated late-night circling of a neighborhood near closed businesses could create reasonable suspicion to stop and inquire, even if the suspected act is minor.

Reasonable suspicion is the standard that justifies a brief investigative stop. It means the officer has specific, articulable facts that would lead a reasonable person to believe a crime is afoot or about to be committed, even if the offense is minor or a municipal ordinance. That lower threshold allows an officer to detain briefly and ask questions to confirm or dispel suspicion without needing a warrant. A warrant is not required for such a stop, though probable cause is needed for an arrest or for most searches. Personal belief or hunch isn’t enough—the stop must be grounded in observable facts, not subjective guesswork. For example, repeated late-night circling of a neighborhood near closed businesses could create reasonable suspicion to stop and inquire, even if the suspected act is minor.