Police officers are allowed to touch the back of your car if they have reasonable grounds to suspect you’re carrying drugs.
Police officers are allowed to touch the back of your car if they have reasonable grounds to suspect you’re carrying drugs. This has been a long-standing practice, but it has come under fire recently after several high-profile cases where police were caught lying about touching cars. Here’s what you need to know about this controversial practice.
What is reasonable suspicion?
Reasonable suspicion is a legal concept that gives police officers the right to stop and search someone without a warrant. It also allows them to conduct an investigation without probable cause, which would be required for an arrest. In order for police officers to conduct a search or make an arrest, they must have reasonable suspicion that someone is committing or has committed a crime.
What does “reasonable suspicion” mean?
“Reasonable” means that there must be enough evidence for an officer reasonably believe that someone is committing or has committed a crime. The evidence doesn’t need to be strong enough for a conviction in court, but it must be more than just “a hunch.” “Suspicion” means that there needs to be some kind of reason why the officer thinks you might be involved in criminal activity.
