The officer in a pretextual stop usually suspects the driver (or a passenger) of having committed, or being in the process of committing, a serious crime.

Question

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In a pretextual stop, the officer typically uses a minor traffic violation as a pretext to stop the vehicle, suspecting the driver or a passenger of a more serious crime, but needing a lawful reason to make the stop.

The Officer in a Pretextual Stop Usually Suspects the Driver