MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

What is required to initiate a traffic stop?

1. Probable Cause

2. Reasonable Suspicion

3. Clear Evidence

4. Witness Request

The correct answer is: Reasonable Suspicion

To initiate a traffic stop, reasonable suspicion is required. This legal standard means that an officer must have a specific and articulable reason to believe that a traffic violation or criminal activity is occurring or has occurred. Reasonable suspicion is a lower threshold than probable cause, which is necessary for making arrests or conducting full searches. In the context of traffic stops, officers may observe a driver committing a minor violation, such as speeding or running a stop sign, or they could have knowledge of a specific behavior that suggests criminal activity (like weaving or erratic driving). This initial reason based on observation enables the officer to lawfully pull over the vehicle for further investigation. While probable cause is essential for arresting an individual or securing a search warrant, it is not a prerequisite for a traffic stop. Other choices like clear evidence and witness request do not directly pertain to the legal standards required for initiating a traffic stop.